Instant reactions: Bears mauled by Lions, set franchise record with ninth straight loss

Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions would’ve been the final game of the season for the Chicago Bears under the NFL’s old 16-game schedule.

There’s unfortunately still one game to go for Justin Fields and Co., because the entire team looked checked out for this 41-10 loss to the Lions at Ford Field.

After taking an early 10-7 lead by the end of the first quarter, the Bears gave up 34 unanswered points and struggled against a Lions defense that otherwise has not been very good this season.

The loss was the ninth straight for the Bears this season, setting a new franchise record and dropping the team to 3-13. The defeat paired with Houston’s loss to Jacksonville keeps the Bears at the No. 2 overall spot in next April’s NFL draft.

Here are our immediate thoughts on the game …

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Adam Hoge

It’s one thing for the defense to struggle that much, but it’s another for the offense — which was as healthy as it’s been in weeks — to barely move the ball against a suspect Lions defense. The offensive line was bad enough to make you wonder if all five positions need upgrades in 2023. The wide receivers are virtually non-existent. No one was open all game. There were also plenty of moments where Justin Fields looked indecisive and held onto the ball too long before taking a sack. As for the defense, there were only two players out there that you can pencil in as starters for next year (Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon) and neither played well. So are you really surprised the Lions lit up the scoreboard all game?

Nicholas Moreano

That sucked. The Bears were completely outplayed in every way by the Detroit Lions. Justin Fields took way too many hits behind a dismantled offensive line. The defense was non-existent – like it has been all season. Outside of still being in contention for the No. 1 overall pick, this was an ugly Bears loss with no positives. One more game to go Bears fans. One more game.

Greg Braggs Jr.

This is the end. My only friend, the end. Only one more game where I have to sit on the edge of my seat praying our franchise QB doesn’t get destroyed. What is Justin Fields learning exactly? Is he supposed to put his career on the line every snap on a team and offense that can’t help him? Can’t protect him? I’m not okay with it. I’m not okay with the amount of hits he took in the first half. Running a QB power on the goalline and smashing Justin into a brick wall? What are we doing here people? It’s reckless and unacceptable. Retool this offensive line and potentially help him with another weapon at WR and then put this guy in harms way. I get it’s football. But the risk isn’t worth the reward right now. You have to recognize that as an organization. If you’re not, then you don’t deserve Justin Fields. Playing him when you’re down 30 in the 4th Quarter? UNACCEPTABLE! Stop the madness. Sit your franchise QB next week and live to fight another day.

Mark Carman

The Bears scored a touchdown on their first drive, again. Justin Fields had over 100 yards rushing in the first quarter. Then Fields ran out of gas and so did the Bears offense. We will all do our best to forget anything else that happened in this game starting with a defense that can’t tackle or stop anyone as well as Fields taking way too many hits that were just unnecessary. One more to go.

Kevin Kaduk

At this point, I’m just thankful that the emergence of Justin Fields saved the middle part of this season and made a lot of those games close and worth watching. Can you imagine how we’d be feeling if he hadn’t? I will say that this loss made me feel worse about the Bears’ standing. While the Lions don’t have a high-upside QB like Fields, they do have pieces at many other positions and it underscores just how many holes Ryan Poles will have to fill over the next few offseason. Let’s hope he’s up to the challenge.

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