NFL Fans Criticize Bears’ Epic Blunder as Caleb Williams Sets Record in Loss to Lions

Despite a strong second-half showing from quarterback Caleb Williams, the Chicago Bears dropped their sixth game in a row Thursday, falling 23-20 to the NFC North rival Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day.

After a sack pushed the Bears to the edge of field goal range with about 30 seconds remaining in the game, the Bears shockingly didn’t use their timeout, and the game ended on a long incompletion.

Williams threw three second-half touchdown passes, plus he set a new single-season rookie record in the loss, going 212 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, which bettered the previous record of 211 held by Kyler Murray:

Williams helped stage a second-half comeback attempt, throwing a pair of touchdown passes to veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen and a third score to D.J. Moore after going into halftime down 16-0, but it wasn’t enough to take down a Lions team that improved to an NFL-best 11-1.

A slow start ultimately doomed the Bears, as they had just 53 total yards of offense and a time of possession of 7:06 in the first half.

Football fans and analysts trolled the Bears for their poor first half and the unthinkable manner in which Thursday’s game ended after a sixth consecutive loss dropped them to 4-8 on the year:

If not for their inability to cash in on their first-half red zone trips, the Lions may have been able to put the Bears away in the first half.

Instead, they had to settle for three field goals, plus they lost a fumble in the red zone, and their only touchdown over the first 30 minutes was a three-yard pass from quarterback Jared Goff to tight end Sam Laporta:

The Bears showed signs of life on the first drive of the second half with Williams hitting Allen for a 31-yard touchdown to give them their first points of the day:

However, the Lions answered on the next drive with LaPorta’s second touchdown catch of the day from one yard out:

A third consecutive touchdown drive of the half was then authored by Williams, who hit Allen from nine yards out, although the Bears missed the two-point conversion, so they remained down by two scores:

Williams drew the Bears even closer with 5:36 left in regulation, throwing his third touchdown pass of the day on a 31-yard throw to Moore:

Chicago forced a Detroit three-and-out on the next drive and had a chance to potentially tie the game or take the lead, but the game ended with Chicago’s horrible clock management, calling Matt Eberflus’ future as head coach further into question.

Although the season has gotten away from the Bears in terms of their record, Williams has shown flashes of brilliance in recent weeks and turned in another strong performance with 256 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions on 20-of-39 passing, plus 39 rushing yards.

Even though a playoff berth is now unlikely this season, the Bears can perhaps rest assured that they have their franchise quarterback in the 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick.

As for the Lions, they have plenty to clean up before hosting the NFC North rival Green Bay Packers next Thursday, but their offense had a complete showing on Turkey Day as usual.

Goff threw for 221 yards, two touchdowns and no picks, while the running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 175 rushing yards,

Chicago putting a scare into Detroit may prove to be the best thing for the Lions since it will force them to refocus ahead of a game against Green Bay that could have massive implications toward winning the division.

Meanwhile, the Bears will attempt to get back on track in their next game on Dec. 8 when they go on the road to face the struggling San Francisco 49ers.