by Frank T. Slawson, The Chicago Times
October 3, 2021
CHICAGO — Fields and the Bears were in much better shape after a bloody beating from Cleveland the previous week. They gained 373 yards after being restricted to 47 yards by the Browns, the ninth-lowest total in league history.
Justin Fields appeared more confident in his second, completing 11 of 17 throws for 209 yards and an interception while Andy Dalton was out with a bone bruise in his left leg. After being sacked nine times for 67 yards while throwing for only 68 yards the previous week, the No. 11 overall draft pick was only sacked once.
David Montgomery had 106 yards and two touchdowns on the ground before leaving with a knee injury. He scored on Chicago’s opening two possessions, sprinting in from the 4 and 9 yards out to make it 14-0, but walked off the field early in the fourth quarter after a 5-yard run.
With the Lions, Robert Quinn had a strip-sack deep in Chicago territory. Khalil Mack added a sack and a fumble recovery for the Bears.
Jared Goff completed 24 of 38 passes for 299 yards. He connected with Kalif Raymond for a 4-yard touchdown in the third quarter and a 25-yarder in the fourth to put the score 24-14.
With about 4 1/2 minutes remaining, the Lions possessed the ball on the Chicago 8. The Bears stopped Detroit when they chose to go for it on fourth-and-1 rather than shoot a field goal.
The Bears gained 200 yards in the first half and took advantage of two Detroit errors when the Lions drove inside the 10 to take a 14-0 lead. On the game’s first possession, they marched 75 yards for a touchdown, with Montgomery carrying six times and scoring from the 4 to cap a 12-play drive.
Detroit then advanced to the 8, only to have the threat stop on an odd turnover. As Goff walked near the line, center Frank Ragnow snapped the ball, which ricocheted off the quarterback and into the hands of Chicago’s Bilal Nickols.
Two snaps later, Fields connected Mooney for a 64-yard throw, and Montgomery scored from the 9 on the first play of the second quarter to make it 14-0.
Instead of kicking a field goal, the Lions chose to go for it on fourth down at the Chicago 5.
In the end zone, the Bears’ Alec Ogletree rejected a ball intended for D’Andre Swift. Quinn strip-sacked Goff on third down at the 3 and Detroit fumbled again inside the 10. Mack was able to recover, and the Bears took over at the 23-yard line. Chicago increased its advantage to 21-0 early in the third quarter when Damien Williams scored from the 4.
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