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The Chicago Bears lost to the Detroit Lions again, despite Justin Fields' best efforts in Week 10. The 31-30 loss means the Lions are now 3-7 this season and in last place in the NFC North.
Both teams came into Sunday's game with an evenly-matched regular record.
The game was even for most of the first half. Both teams had field goals that left them tied for three points apiece at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, both teams scored a touchdown to bring the half-time score to 10-10.
Jared Goff threw a passing touchdown to Brock Wright after the Lions took a risk on 4th-and-goal. However, the Bears pulled level with a magnificent rushing touchdown by Justin Fields, which was the highlight of the half.
The second half saw the Chicago Bears coming out strong. The defense stopped the Detroit Lions in their tracks. On the next drive, Fields connected for a touchdown pass to Cole Kmet. That gave them a 17-10 lead. Justin Fields also completed four consecutive games with, at least, one rushing and one passing touchdown with that pass.
When they got the ball next, the Bears extended their lead to 24-10 after a 50-yard touchdown pass from Fields to Kmet. The third quarter got even better when the Bears defense sacked Jared Goff in the last minute.
The fourth quarter saw some bad defensive plays by the Bears as they gave away penalties and failed to stop D'Andre Swift's run to the end zone to bring the game to 24-17. On the next play, disaster struck for Justin Fields as he threw an interception on 2nd-and-18. Cornerback Jeff Okudah ran into the end zone to make it 24-24.
But if Fields was at fault for that, then he more than made up for it on the next drive. On a 3rd-and-2 at their 30-yard line, he took off and ran for a 67-yard rushing touchdown. The conversion was missed, meaning the Bears were up 30-24.
The next drives stalled, but when the Lions got the ball back, they made it count by setting up a long drive down field with Jamaal Williams scoring a rushing touchdown. The conversion gave them a 31-30 lead that they never relinquished.
How good has Justin Fields been over the last few weeks?
Anyone who saw Justin Fields on Sunday saw a team losing despite their quarterback and not because of him. It has been a similar story for the last three weeks. His current run of, at least, one rushing and one passing touchdown in four straight games is tied for the second-longest in NFL history.
In his last three losses, his quarterback rating was 120.0 against Dallas, 106.7 against Miami and 99.4 today. He has seven passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns in his last three games, with the only interception coming on Sunday. Yet he has lost all three games.
The defense has given up more than 30 points in each of their last three games. They need to tighten up to give them a chance at converting wins into losses. Fields has also been sacked nine times in the last three games, pointing to a need for the offensive line to toughen up and the wide receivers to get open faster.
Fields has been nothing but exemplary in recent weeks, but he is not getting much support. The Bears will have to do better, and soon.
