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Lions Vs. Bears Live Updates: NFL Scores, Game Stats, News, Highlights For Thanksgiving Game

In what will be deemed one of the worst performances by a head coach in NFL history, Matt Eberflus sabotaged the Chicago Bears' opportunity to complete a miraculous comeback by the Chicago Bears in the final 36 seconds of their 23-20 defeat to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. 

One of the memorable Thanksgiving games in Detroit was memorable for all the wrong reasons in Chicago. The Bears were set to erase a 16-0 halftime deficit and force overtime -- at the very least. Facing a second-and-20 at the Lions' 35-yard line, Caleb Williams lost six yards on a quarterback draw and the Bears let time run down while at the Lions 41-yard line. 

In what will be known as one of the worst game management situations in recent memory, Eberflus did not call a timeout -- even though the Bears had one -- while facing a third-and-26 with 32 seconds left. The clock ran all the way down to six seconds left as the Williams struggled to get into formation and took away several possibilities with all the killed time. 

The Bears could have ran one more play to set Cairo Santos up for an easier field goal than 59 yards out for the tie -- or called timeout and avoided the worst possible scenario and have Santos kick the 59-yard field goal in an attempt to force overtime. Instead, the Bears had to rush to get a play off as Caleb Williams snapped the ball and heaved a pass short of the end zone with no time left.

The game was over and the the Lions survived 23-20 after dominating the first half of this Thanksgiving classic. Detroit is 11-1 for the first time in franchise history and have won 10 straight for the first time since 1934, maintaining the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Bears lost their sixth straight game to fall to 4-8.

Takeaways from this classic are coming shortly, but a recap of the wild ending can be found in our live blog below! 

Why the Lions won

The Lions somehow hung on to victory after dominating the first half of this one. Detroit scored on each of their first four possessions, but kicked three field goals to keep the game within reach for the Bears as they led just 16-0 at halftime despite having a 279-53 yard advantage at halftime. 

That lead was all the Lions needed, even though the Bears clawed their way back into the game. Chicago even had a game-winning drive going, getting all the way up to the Detroit 12-yard line with 42 seconds left. A illegal use of hands penalty by Teven Jenkins, followed by a sack by Za'Darius Smith, backed the Bears up to the 41-yard line. Then the Bears' coaching ineptitude happened. 

The Lions hung on -- and Smith's sack was massive -- but the game should have had an opportunity to go to overtime. 

Why the Bears lost

Let's just go over the malpractice by Matt Eberflus again. The Bears had 36 seconds left -- the clock went down to 32 seconds when Caleb Williams went down. Matt Eberflus and Williams let 20 seconds go off the clock before either had a plan on what to do next -- and they had a down to play with and set up an easier kick for Cairo Santos (would have been 59 yards). 

Not only do the Bears not even get a kick off, they never attempted one. No timeout was called by Eberflus at any point to calm things down for his rookie quarterback. Santos didn't even get to attempt a kick to try and force overtime of any sort. The Bears didn't even get set up for the final play until 12 seconds left, so there was still time to call a timeout and settle things.

No timeout was ever called. Williams just ran the play like it was a regular play early in the first quarter, with Eberflus not stopping him. This sequence of events cost the Bears an opportunity to force overtime -- and potentially win the game. 

Turning point

Caleb Williams found Keenan Allen on the left sideline for 13 yards that had the Bears at the Lions' 12-yard line with 43 seconds left. There was a flag on the play, which was an illegal use of hands penalty by guard Teven Jenkins that negated the pass completion and pinned the Bears back to the Lions' 35-yard line with 36 seconds left.

The Bears panicked with the Williams sack by Za'Darius Smith where he lost six yards, then the clock management chaos ensued. The penalty started all the problems for the Bears, who had an opportunity to force overtime -- and get the win -- prior to the Jenkins penalty. 

Play of the game

The Lions did survive, but Za'Darius Smith collapsed the pocket quickly enough to sack Williams where the play looked like it was a designed quarterback draw. Williams didn't have much time to pass, nor did he look like he was trying to attempt to pass. 

The Bears were looking at a 53-yard field goal that went to 59 yards prior to the Smith sack. Obviously, that didn't happen with the clock management fiasco. Give Smith a ton of credit for adding to the madness, as his sack arguably saved the win for Detroit. 

Up next

The Lions (11-1) will host the Packers next Thursday night (December 5) in Week 14 while the Bears (4-8) travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers on Sunday, December 8. 

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