The Chicago Bears (6-6) overcame a slow start on short rest and came roaring back to beat the Detroit Lions (3-8-1). Here's what we learned from the Bears' 24-20 victory on Thanksgiving Day:
- It wasn't a perfectly cooked Thanksgiving meal for the Bears, but Mitchell Trubisky led two second-half scoring drives to burn the Lions. Trubisky feasted on short throws most of the game, willing to check down against a defense uninterested in bringing pressure, dicing up Detroit for a season-high 338 yards on 29-of-38 passing -- his first time over the 300-yard mark on the season. Trubisky saved his best throws for the game-winning drive, tossing dimes to Anthony Miller downfield on back-to-back third-and-5s that went for 35 and 32 yards, respectively. Trubisky overcame a lackluster first half and an awful throw behind Allen Robinson that Darius Slay intercepted to open the third quarter. Matt Nagy will be pleased with how his QB bounced back. Thursday's tilt epitomized the enigma of Trubisky. To close the first half, he confoundingly ran short of the stick when he could have picked up a first down leading to a field goal. The QB once again sailed several passes to open receivers. Yet, later, he made several picture-perfect tosses deep. It won't go down as a pretty win against a team starting its third string, but Nagy's squad will gladly take the holiday victory.
- Undrafted rookie quarterback David Blough wowed out of the gate, dive-bombing the Bears to give the Lions a 14-7 first-quarter lead. Playing in place of an injured Jeff Driskel, who was playing in place of an injured Matthew Stafford, the first completion of the third-stringer's career went for a 75-yard TD bomb to Kenny Golladay. Blough showed a willingness to push the ball downfield and surprisingly good pocket movement for a rookie, throwing for 280 yards, two TDs and one interception that came on a late desperation heave. After engineering touchdowns on the two opening drives, the Lions offense screeched to a halt, with four three-and-outs on its next five possessions, not counting the end of the half. Predictably for a quarterback who never took an NFL snap prior to Thanksgiving and didn't get full practice reps on a short week, there were some inconsistencies from Blough, who tended to throw low on several passes. Penalties and missed opportunities sunk the Lions more than the rookie QB, however. Given the circumstances, Blough fared better than anyone could have expected.
- Anthony Miller deserves whatever piece of turkey he desires. The Bears receiver repeatedly torched Lions slot corner Justin Coleman, going for a career-high 140 yards on nine catches. Six of Miller's receptions went for first downs, many coming in a huge second half in which he compiled 110 yards. Allen Robinson also ate well for Chicago, snagging eight passes for 86 yards and a TD, and repeatedly finding space for chain-moving catches. Tight end Jesper Horsted had perhaps the prettiest catch for the Bears, corralling an arching Trubisky throw in the third quarter for a touchdown. The Bears' pass-catching targets proved they could get open versus man coverage and make plays when Trubisky gives them a chance.
- Matt Patricia's defense once again faltered when its offense, led by an undrafted rookie, made enough plays to pull out a win. The Lions elected to bring zero pressure on Trubisky time after time, giving the struggling quarterback plenty of time to survey the field. The lack of pressure once again forced defensive backs to cover far too long. Patricia will also have to answer questions about why he elected not to throw a challenge flag on Miller's second long reception that set up the game-winning score. The Bears receiver appeared to bobble the ball and might have been out of bounds before completing the catch, which would have produced a fourth down for Chicago. Even after a Bears delay of game, Patricia elected not to even roll the dice to see if the crucial call would be overturned.
- A halftime performance from Brothers Osborne that suffered multiple mishaps was a metaphor for Thursday's game in Detroit and the season for both teams. Nagy's squad moved to 6-6 on the year, but did so with several boneheaded errors, including multiple late substitutions, a penalty out of a timeout and 10 total flags on the day. Even with the win, Chicago will likely need to win out against a rough slate (Cowboys, Packers, Chiefs and Vikings) and get a ton of help to have a prayer at the postseason. Losing a double-digit lead on Thanksgiving won't help Patricia's warming seat in Detroit as the Lions fell to 3-8-1, losing five straight and eight of its last nine.
