Morning Box Score: Bears Maul Lions
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Oct 5, 2009 3:00PM
For a half, the Detroit Lions looked like a team intent on putting together an actual winning streak as an encore to their first victory in almost two years. They jumped out to an early lead and went into the half tied at 21. However, the Bears came alive in the second half and ended up blowing out the Lions 48-24 at Soldier Field. We probably weren't the only Bears fans concerned when the Lions scored on the game's opening drive, to take an early 7-0 lead. But the Bears answered, with Jay Cutler scoring on an helicopter spin of a leap into the end zone. The Lions stormed back down the field and took a 14-7 lead before the Bears tied the game on a touchdown moments into the second quarter. A Tommie Harris interception set up a Greg Olsen score that gave the Bears a 21-14 lead, but the resilient Lions drove 98 yards to knot things up before the intermission.
We can only imagine what Lovie Smith said in the locker room, but it worked because the Bears came out and dominated in the second half. Rookie Johnny Knox took the opening kickoff back 102 yards for a touchdown and the Bears never looked back. After that, the Bears took advantage of excellent field position to tack on two Robbie Gould field goals in the third quarter and a pair of fourth quarter TDs. Meanwhile, the Lions managed a lone field goal in the second half as the defense shut them down.
While Johnny Knox's 102-yard return was perhaps the game's most exciting play, Matt Forte's pair of long runs were perhaps the most gratifying. Even with Jay Cutler leading the offense, the Bears will need to establish a running game. Forte finished the day with 121 yards -- nearly double his best output to date. With Sunday's victory, the Bears hit the quarter point in their season at 3-1, and more importantly they reach their bye week. The Bears desperately need the week off as they are a banged up team -- Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Adrian Peterson joined the ranks of the injured on Sunday. They've now got two weeks to heal up before traveling to Atlanta on October 18.