Despite driving inside the Bears’ 10-yard line each of their first three possessions, the Lions came away with zero points.
Chicago — The Detroit Lions had plenty of chances to win their first game of the season. Instead, they repeatedly shot themselves in the foot throughout a brutal first half against the Chicago Bears. Despite driving inside the Bears’ 10-yard line each of their first three possessions, the Lions came away with zero points, losing two fumbles and failing to convert a fourth-and-goal. Left to overcome a 21-point, second-half deficit, another failed fourth down in the red zone ended Detroit’s comeback hopes late in the fourth quarter as the Bears held on for a 24-14 win at Solider Field on Sunday. BOX SCORE: Bears 24, Lions 14 «We need a lot of third-down work, we need a lot of red-zone work and so that’s what we’re going to start focusing on (next week),» Lions coach Dan Campbell said. «We’re going to do a ton of work down there. We’ve been able to move the ball pretty good. «But now we get into some of these third downs, fourth downs, got-to-have-its, when we get in the red zone,» Campbell continued. «So we need work, and if we got to do three days of that this week, that’s all we’ll do.» Starting rookie quarterback Justin Fields, the Bears looked nothing like the team that mustered just 47 yards on offense a week earlier in a loss to the Browns. Leaning on the effective rushing of David Montgomery, the Bears took the opening kickoff 75 yards on 12 plays. The veteran running back carried the ball six times for 31 yards during the series as the Bears bullied the Lions up front, particularly going left, including a 4-yard scoring run for Montgomery to cap the series. «David has a knack,» Bears coach Matt Nagy said. «He has a knack for the red zone. He shows that. He’s proven that all year long. He’s proven it his whole career.» The Lions responded by quickly navigating into Bears’ territory, and found themselves with a first-and-goal from the 8-yard line after Chicago defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga was assessed a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness after hitting tight end T.J. Hockenson after the whistle. But on the next play, as quarterback Jared Goff was trying to make an adjustment at the line of scrimmage, center Frank Ragnow prematurely snapped the ball.
