Another close game and another week where the Detroit Lions just couldn't find a way to make the plays down the stretch needed to win the game.
Leading 20-17 with 6:40 left in the fourth quarter, Chicago quarterback Mitchell Trubisky guided the Bears on a nine-play, 90-yard drive, culminating in a 3-yard touchdown pass to running back David Montgomery with just over two minutes remaining that helped the Bears escape Ford Field with a 24-20 victory.
Chicago converted two third downs for gains of 35 and 32 yards, respectively, on the drive, both to wide receiver Anthony Miller with Lions slot corner Justin Coleman in coverage.
The Lions got the ball back with two minutes and 12 seconds left on the clock. They drove all the way down to the Bears' 27-yard line, but a sack on a third-down play set up a 4th and 22 for Detroit. Bears safety Eddie Jackson sealed the victory with an interception at the Chicago 14-yard line on the fourth-down play.
It's the fifth straight loss for the Lions and their seventh in the last eight games. They're now 3-8-1 on the year.
Rookie quarterback David Blough made his first career start for Detroit and helped the Lions jump out to a 17-7 first-half lead with touchdown passes to wide receivers Kenny Golladay (75) and Marvin Jones Jr. (8).
Kicker Matt Prater added two field goals from 25 and 24 yards, to round out Detroit's scoring.
Golladay finished with 158 receiving yards on four catches.
Lions running back Bo Scarbrough rushed for 81 yards on 21 carries.
QB comparison: The only players in the NFL to throw for at least 130 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter of a game this season are Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers and now Blough. Unfortunately, Blough couldn't come up with any late-game magic.
He finished 22-of-38 passing for 280 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and an 87.6 passer rating.
For the second time this season, Trubisky burned the Lions' defense for three touchdown passes. He completed 29 of his 38 pass attempts for 338 yards with those three scores, one interception (Darius Slay) and a passer rating of 118.1.
Promising trend: Make it four straight games the Lions' defense has held an opponent under 100 yards rushing. Chicago had 88 Thursday on 23 carries (3.8 average).
Detroit entered the game ranked 24th in the NFL allowing 120.7 yards per game. The first six opponents the Lions faced this season rushed for at least 112 yards on the ground. But now in four straight, and five of their last six, Detroit's been much better against the run.
Worrisome trend: For a second straight week, Detroit's defense couldn't find a way to come up with a key stop late in the game to help the Lions secure a win.
Last week in Washington, it was two late field goal drives by the Redskins on their final two possessions that proved to be the difference in a 19-16 loss.
Thursday, they allowed a nine-play, 90-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in a 24-20 defeat. The Bears converted two third downs, and Trubisky was 4-for-5 passing for 81 yards and a touchdown on the drive.
Injury report: Tight end T.J. Hockenson was injured late in the game after making a short catch on the sideline. It was never announced what Hockenson's injury was, but doctors huddled around him on the sideline were looking at his lower body.
Next week: at Minnesota
