(G)obbled (B)ears (U)p - Thanksgiving GBU Thread

[ghandi]

We had a feeling that soon the defense would have some pretty big cracks....You can only lose so many guys before it starts to wear down....3 more defensive linemen and Zadarius had to come out a couple times too.....I'm not sure they are going to have much left come playoff time.

[Lionsfan123]

Jamo is fine. Some of you crotchety old fucking men want him off of your lawn.

He is welcome on mine any time.

He's an asset and a rare talent and worth any of the silly ass bullshit that he has been involved in.

Don’t know why people are shitting on Jamo so much.

[Lionsfan123]

We had a feeling that soon the defense would have some pretty big cracks....You can only lose so many guys before it starts to wear down....3 more defensive linemen and Zadarius had to come out a couple times too.....I'm not sure they are going to have much left come playoff time.

And with this hot of a start this may be the Lions best chance to get the #1 Seed to get themselves in position to make a Superbowl run. Anything less than a Superbowl and this season is a failure. There’s no guarantee we will be good next year. The NFL stands for NOT FOR LONG

[whatever_gong82]

Lions hold off Bears in wild ending for first Thanksgiving win in 8 years: Key takeaways

The Athletic NFL Staff
November 28, 2024

By Colton Pouncy, Adam Jahns, Kevin Fishbain and RJ Kraft


The Lions had to hold off a furious second-half charge by Chicago’s Caleb Williams and benefitted from questionable clock management to nab a 10th straight victory with a 23-20 win over the Bears. Detroit (11-1) continues to lead the NFC North and hold the top seed in the NFC.



An annual participant in Thanksgiving football, the Lions notched their first win on the holiday in eight years. On the other side, Chicago (4-8) dropped its sixth consecutive game after a 4-2 start to the season.

After a tough first half, Williams rebounded to toss three second-half touchdowns — two to Keenan Allen and one to DJ Moore. With 3:31 left, Chicago got the ball back at its own 1-yard line and Williams drove the team to the Lions’ 25 before the drive stalled. Williams was sacked at the Lions’ 41-yard line with 32 seconds left. The Bears elected not to use their final timeout as time ticked off and Williams got the final play off with six seconds left — an incomplete pass down the field to Rome Odunze.



Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw two touchdowns to tight end Sam LaPorta, while the Detroit ground game — led by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 194 yards. Goff completed 21 of 34 pass attempts for 221 yards. Detroit’s defense smothered Chicago’s offense in the first half.



In Week 14, Detroit will host the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 5. Chicago will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers on Dec. 8.



Late-game clock management costs Bears

The Bears keep finding new ways to lose one-score games. They looked like they were going to lose in a rout in Detroit, came all the way back, had the ball in field goal range but a cacophony of errors at the end led to Williams’ pass falling incomplete as time expired. They had one timeout left after Williams was sacked on what appeared to be a broken play.

We’ll have a lot of questions, again, for coach Matt Eberflus about how that happened. It’s another head-scratcher for a team that has had too many this season, and during this six-game losing streak, they’ve never been on the right side of a coin flip game. — Kevin Fishbain, Bears beat writer




Vulnerable Lions let off the hook

The Bears had all the momentum, shrinking a 16-point Lions lead to 3 in the final frame. Detroit had issues in the red zone. Its defense was shorthanded. This was the time to get them. The Bears had every opportunity to hand the Lions their second loss of the season — getting into field goal range on their final possession. Yet, a series of penalties and a decision to go for the end zone with a timeout left thwarted the opportunity.


At the end of the day, the Lions will take it — but this was far from their best performance. They didn’t close out the game like they normally do, but sometimes, that’s just the NFL. They’re fortunate to win the game, improving to 11-1 for the first time in franchise history. They’ve won 10 games in a row, and continue to maintain the NFC’s No. 1 seed. That’s enough for a Happy Thanksgiving. — Colton Pouncy, Lions beat writer



Despite losses, Williams makes gains

Three straight games against teams in the NFC North have resulted in three wild finishes for the Bears — and three losses. The Bears lost to the Packers on a blocked field goal, to the Vikings in overtime after erasing an 11-point deficit and to the Lions on Thanksgiving on a heave to the end zone as time expired in a three-point game.

If there’s one positive, it’s that Williams can excel against tough opponents. He just needs to prove he can beat them. He’s not there yet, but the rookie quarterback definitely is close. Williams was 20-for-39 passing for 256 yards and three touchdowns for a 97.8 passer rating. The Lions entered the game leading the league in opposing QB passer rating at 72.7. — Adam Jahns, Bears beat writer


Detroit’s defensive injuries piling up

The Lions’ dream season continues, even though it’s hard to feel too good about this one. Injuries continued to pile up, with Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal and Malcolm Rodriguez all leaving this game without returning. Others like DJ Reader, Za’Darius Smith and Mekhi Wingo all left the game before coming back.

It feels like injuries are the only thing that can derail this team right now. They won’t have much time to rest after this one, either, with the Packers coming to town in Week 14 for “Thursday Night Football.” The Lions escaped with a win, but the injury bug continues to bite. — Pouncy

[Iron Lion]

Ugly: Season-long streak of not giving up multiple passing TDs snapped.

Bad: Streak of 12 quarters without allowing a TD snapped. Streak of 25 straight games with a rushing TD snapped.

Good: Thabksgiving losing streak snapped.


We are in the same slump we had this time of the season last year, yet still winning.

[whatever_gong82]

Locker room buzz: Backups step up, Sewell talks trick play, Jamo apologizes and Bates' perfect run ends

Justin Rogers
Nov 29



Detroit — Here’s what I learned bouncing around the Detroit Lions’ locker room following the team’s 23-20 victory over the Chicago Bears.


Next man up steps up

When you have as many injuries as the Lions do on defense, you need someone unexpected to step up. On Thursday, that man was defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad.


Not only did the veteran edge rusher come up with his first sack since Oct. 22 on the game’s final drive, he added pressure on a third down that led to a throwaway, and drew a holding call that helped kill another first-half drive.

According to NFL Next Gen stats, Muhammad racked up a stellar seven QB pressures on the day.


“I thought Muhammad played big for us,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “It was good to get him back in the lineup. He’s a relentless player, gives you all he’s got.”

Early in the week, Muhammad got charged up by some motivation from teammate Za’Darius Smith.


“When he found out at the beginning of the week he was going to be up, I said, 'Give them a reason to not send you back down,’” Smith said. “As you see, he did that today.”

Smith and Muhammad didn’t know each other before Smith came over in a trade from Cleveland at the deadline, but they’ve formed a fast bond. Muhammad acknowledged the advice resonated.


“It's super valuable,” Muhammad said. “That's my dawg. We're really tight. We feed off each other, we're always talking to each other. Man, sometimes, he puts things into perspective. We know how this game goes, it's performance-based. You have to show up and you have to perform. I already know certain things, but having him in my ear like that gives you an extra push.”

The Lions, who lost starters Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport to season-ending injuries earlier in the campaign, were also without Josh Paschal most of this contest after he suffered a knee injury. Additionally, defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike, who has slid outside in a pinch, was sidelined for the second half with a knee injury, further necessitating Muhammad’s contributions.


Injury update

Campbell wasn’t certain about the extent of Paschal or Onwuzurike’s injuries, but expressed more concern about the knee injury that removed linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez from the lineup.


“I’ll be honest with you, I think Rodrigo is the one that could be the worst,” Campbell said. “And I don’t know how significant it’ll be just yet, but he’s the one I fear a little bit could be down.”

The Lions also had to deal with a pre-game injury when cornerback Emmanuel Moseley had something crop up with his hamstring. That resulted in him being inactive for the contest.


“We just didn’t feel good about him being able to go, having enough to really go full speed,” Campbell said. “And that’s really what that came down to. So, obviously, we came out of this game without him getting any worse.”

From neighborhood game to starting on national TV
The Lions went into the game planning on using a cornerback rotation to take some of the load off rookie Terrion Arnold, who missed last weekend’s matchup with the Colts due to a groin strain.


Moseley was expected to be part of that rotation but was replaced by Khalil Dorsey, who got the starting nod ahead of Arnold. It was Dorsey’s first start of the year and third in two seasons for the Lions.

“This was crazy,” Dorsey said. “You know how you play football with your neighbors (on Thanksgiving). That's what I was doing two years ago. I was back home. The guy who called me, his name is (former Nebraska cornerback) Josh Mitchell. We went to Roosevelt High School (California). He said, 'Hey man, you should come out, talk to the kids, bring some inspiration.'


"That was fun, but coming into this environment, with this team, with them believing in me in every aspect, it just feels different.”

Dorsey nearly came up with an interception on a back-shoulder fade. He was in an excellent position on the throw in the red zone. He told me he recognized the call, which included a fake bubble screen, from his film study ahead of the game.


Additionally, in his usual role as punt gunner, Dorsey downed Jack Fox’s fourth-quarter effort at the 1-yard line, which factored into the Bears being outside of field goal range in the game’s closing moments.

“He's been unbelievable for me, all year,” Fox said. “I think he's one of if not the best gunner in the NFL. Even on plays where he's not making the tackle, he's the reason they have to fair catch it. On that one, the ball hits the ground because he's down there so fast and in the returner's face. His effort on every play is unbelievable. I'm lucky to have him.”


Run of perfection comes to an end


Jake Bates’ run of perfection is over.

Detroit’s first-year kicker made his first three field goal tries against the Bears, pushing him to 19-for-19 on the season before sending a 45-yard effort wide right in the fourth quarter.


“Yeah, it just stayed straight on me,” Bates said. “I knew it right off my foot.”

I asked Bates if it was a blessing in disguise, removing the pressure that comes with maintaining a perfect season.


“Yeah, I'm human, so I've had that in the back of my head,” Bates said. “I never want to miss. Missing is never easy, it sucks regardless of how many you've made. I'm just really happy it didn't come back to bite us in the butt. The offense saved me, the defense saved me. If I'm going to miss, at least we won.”

To make matters worse, Bates was randomly selected to be drug tested after the game. Happy Thanksgiving.


Checking one off the bucket list

The vision, by the end of this season, is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans. But a turkey leg on the field after a Thanksgiving win? That was another Jared Goff goal, apparently.


“Yeah, it’s the best,” Goff said. “I was just talking about — in your NFL career, you have these bucket list items. You know, holding the Lombardi is obviously number one, but the whole eating the turkey after the Thanksgiving win is up there, too, and that’s something that I’ll never forget.

“It was actually pretty good. The stuffing was good,” Goff said. “We were having a good time. It’s awesome. It’s a memory I’ll have forever.”


Manning up after mistake

With the Lions trying to fend off the Bears’ rally in the fourth quarter, wide receiver Jameson Williams was flagged for taunting after throwing the ball in the face of Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson on the sideline.

The 15-yard infraction derailed a drive, leaving the Lions to settle for the field goal Bates missed.

Williams got yanked from the game after the play and was shown on the broadcast getting chewed out by position coach Antwaan Randle-El.


After the game, Campbell and Goff acknowledged being impressed by Williams getting in front of the team and apologizing for the blunder.

“It’s already cleaned up,” Campbell said. “We’re good. And as a matter of fact, Jamo got right in front of the team a minute ago, unsolicited, and wanted to apologize to his teammates. That’s big, that’s growth.”


Goff echoed the sentiment.

“Yeah, it’s huge,” he said. “He’s right where he needs to be. He’s doing a good job. I know that was a mistake by him, but I’m proud of him, the way he handled it, the way he stood up and took responsibility. We’ll move on, there’s no problems there.”


Sewell bummed by missed opportunity

Ben Johnson dug deep into his bag of tricks once again, calling for a pass play for offensive tackle Penei Sewell. Lining up at tight end, Sewell took an end-around handoff, looking to throw downfield.

Unfortunately, the intended target was covered, leaving Sewell to tuck and run. He was contacted well behind the line of scrimmage but fought his way to a loss of just 1 yard, much to the delight of the home crowd.


“He made two or three guys miss on the tackle and I was kind of giggling the whole time watching it,” Goff said.

I asked Sewell about the discipline to not force the throw, given the opportunity may never come again. He turned it around and said he actually made a selfish decision.


“To do the right thing there was probably throw it away,” Sewell said. “I selfishly kept it because I wanted to do something with it. Like you said, knowing I won't get many opportunities (like that).”

Sewell has been casually throwing passes during drills in practice for more than a month, and this play call, nicknamed “Mighty Duck” (Sewell went to Oregon) has been something the Lions have been cooking up for some time.


He said it would have been his first pass attempt in a game at any level.

“We were pumped it got called,” offensive tackle Dan Skipper said. “We thought it was going to score.”


Thankful for friends like Teddy

Before getting the call to rejoin Detroit’s practice squad a few weeks ago, wide receiver and return man Maurice Alexander was down in Florida, training with retired quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and coaching a Pop Warner team in Florida City.

“It's definitely a blessing to have coaches who genuinely love their players,” Alexander said. “I felt like I was always going to get another chance, I just had to be ready to take advantage of it.”


Alexander had a good day after muffing his first try near the sideline. He averaged 10.5 yards.

I asked Alexander if he had heard from Bridgewater and he showed me text messages of support before, during and after the game. In reference to Alexander’s 23-yard return in the second half, Bridgewater wrote, “'Almost. 24 owes you,” suggesting a better block from rookie Loren Strickland might have sprung Alexander for a touchdown.


Vildor gets last laugh

Part of Thursday’s cornerback rotation, Kindle Vildor had a rebound performance after struggling the week before in Indianapolis.

Vildor said he hadn’t expected to start against the Colts, only learning he would the day before while acknowledging he probably wasn’t as prepared as he could have been.


“Knowing I was going to be out there today, I felt more prepared,” he said. “I felt I was able to go out there and battle, be there for the guys who weren't out there.”

Although Vildor played tough all day, many will remember a controversial call for defensive pass interference at the end of the game, on a fourth-and-15 play, which briefly put the Bears in range for a game-tying field goal.


“I didn’t have a problem with the coverage,” Campbell said. “That’s probably the best way to say it. I thought those guys were competing for the ball, and I liked his coverage there. …It’s why Vildor’s here. We love the way he competes.”

Vildor was bewildered by the call after it was made. After the game, the official who made threw the flag offered him an explanation.


“I couldn't believe it,” Vildor said. “From the (snap), I quick-jammed him, so he wasn't really able to get into his route. Once he went down the field, I was right there trailing him. Shoot, once the ball came out, I went to the ball. I was confused.

“The ref said he thought I grabbed him when I was going to the ball,” Vildor said. “That's what he told me after the game."


In the end, it didn’t matter. Vildor thought the way things ended was a little bit of karma.

“God was on our side,” Vildor said. “He knew that (call) was wrong. It's all good. We got that dub.”



Email: jrogers@detroitfootball.net

X: Justin_Rogers

Bluesky: Justin-Rogers

[edindetroit]

Here's the last 2 minutes via CBS/NFL:

We were at my sister's house and it was time to eat. I could hear the game and would look over my shoulder at it. When it ended I was standing with my brother in law watching and had no idea what happened except that the Lions won. I found a 12 minute video of the end of the game on YouTube when we got home and I still don't know what happened. Eberflus should change his name to Eberdoofus.

[whatever_gong82]

We were at my sister's house and it was time to eat. I could hear the game and would look over my shoulder at it. When it ended I was standing with my brother in law watching and had no idea what happened. I found a 12 minute video of the end of the game on YouTube when we got home and I still don't know what happened. Eberflus should change his name to Eberdoofus.

Could you please put that other link on here please?

Thanks.

[froot loops]

The Thursday games always have more potential for injuries. The good news for most of today's injuries and the existing ones is these guys are likely to come back. Losing Rodriguez to a long term injury would suck, but a lot of these players are going to be back. This is the NFL, injuries happen and it is imperative that the front office can find guys to replace any injured player. So far they have been able to do that. You have a mini-bye after next Thursday. Things are looking good.

[edindetroit]

It should have been offsetting penalties, the guy pushes him out of bounds and he wasn't even playing. Truthfully, the guy should have been ejected for that.

Thank You I was thinking I was the only one that caught that. No one else here chimed in about nor did the announcers.

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2024/11/28/lions-fans-thankful-after-team-snaps-seven-year-turkey-day-skid/76646297007/

[edindetroit]

If that was the right way, I’d hate to see the wrong way.

I thought the same thing when I saw that.

[edindetroit]

Don’t know why people are shitting on Jamo so much.

Especially when he was provoked by getting hit out of bounds.

[edindetroit]

Could you please put that other link on here please?

Thanks.

[edindetroit]

Looks like it is the same one you put up.