Bobby Price, Detroit Lions (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Another week, another lackluster performance by the Detroit Lions against a divisional opponent. Losing two key starters to injury didn’t help either in what is setting up to be a painful season.
The Lions came up empty on three first-half red zone trips and lost center Frank Ragnow and edge rusher Romeo Okwara to injuries in a 24-14 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday. Detroit is just 3-17 against the rest of the NFC North since the start of the 2018 season.
The loss drops them to 0-4 and dead last in the division, with Dan Campbell still looking for his first win as Lions head coach.
The Bears used a 12-play, 75-yard drive to open the scoring thanks to a 4-yard touchdown plunge by tailback David Montgomery. The Lions marched right into the red zone on their first series, but a bad snap was recovered by the Bears. Montgomery soon found the end zone again, giving Chicago a double-digit lead early in the second quarter.
The Lions stalled again in the red zone on their next two drives, failing to convert on a 4th-and-goal and then seeing Lions starter Jared Goff stripped by Bears star linebacker Khalil Mack right before halftime. The Bears jumped on the ball and held the Lions scoreless in the first half.
A quick rushing score by Damien Williams early in the third quarter put the Bears up 21-0, another insurmountable lead for the undermanned and overmatched Lions, despite two second-half touchdown catches by Khalif Raymond.
Goff went 24/38 with 298 yards and two touchdown passes. He was sacked four times. Quintez Cephus led Lions receivers with 83 yards.
Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields finished 11/17 for 209 yards and an interception. Montgomery totaled 106 yards on the ground to go with his two scores before leaving in the fourth quarter with a leg injury.
The Lions will visit the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday at 1:00 P.M. EST.