The Detroit Lions are showing once again that even if they’re not a good football team, they’re at least a competitive one.
The NFC North’s last-place team leads its first-place team at halftime, as the Lions took a 17-14 lead over the Chicago Bears into the locker room at Ford Field.
The Lions’ final scoring drive covered 91 yards and consisted of just two plays: A tremendous 45-yard run by Jahvid Best, followed by a 46-yard catch and run to the end zone by Calvin Johnson, who showed off not only his great speed, but a powerful stiff arm to break the final tackle.
Jay Cutler is having a solid game for the Bears, completing 11 of 16 passes for 130 yards, but what’s surprising is what an excellent game third-string quarterback Drew Stanton is having for the Lions. Stanton got the scoring started with a rushing touchdown and has completed nine of 14 passes for 143 yards, with no interceptions.
There’s still another half of football to be played, and the Lions showed in their Thanksgiving loss to the Patriots that they’re capable of playing very well early and very badly late. But through 30 minutes, the last-place team is beating the first-place team.
UPDATE: The Lions made it 20-14 with a field goal early in the third quarter.
UPDATE 2: Bears kicker Robbie Gould nailed a 54-yard field goal to make it 20-17.
