DETROIT LIONS AT CHICAGO BEARS SOLDIER FIELD WEEK 11: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2017 The following are post-game notes from the Detroit Lions 27-24 win against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday, November 19, 2017. POST-GAME NOTES WITH A WIN With a 27-24 victory at Chicago, the Lions improved to 6-4 in 2017, representing the third time in four seasons under Head Coach Jim Caldwell that Detroit has achieved a record of at least two games over.500 through 10 games. Lions Leaders, Records After 10 Games Under Caldwell Year G W L T Pct 2014 10 7 3 0.700 2015 10 3 7 0.300 2016 10 6 4 0.600 2017 10 6 4 0.600 The Lions now hold a 4-1 record on the road this season, which ties the franchise record for the most road wins through the first five road games of the season. They reached a 4-1 road record for the first time since 2011. Lions Leaders, Wins in 1st 5 Road Games Rk Year G W L T 1t 1934 5 4 1 0 1t 1951 5 4 1 0 1t 1953 5 4 1 0 1t 1956 5 4 1 0 1t 1961 5 4 0 1 1t 1971 5 4 0 1 1t 2000 5 4 1 0 1t 2011 5 4 1 0 1t 2017 5 4 1 0 ROAD WARRIORS Detroit completed a 3-0 road record in the NFC North for the first time since realignment in 2002. The Lions also registered the franchise s first unblemished divisional road record in team history. The only other season the Lions finished without a road loss in the division was a 5-0-1 road record in 1961 (includes Western Conference road records prior to first divisional alignment in 1967). Lions Leaders, Seasons with Zero Road Losses in Division Year G W L T Division 1961 6 5 0 1 Western 2017 2 2 0 0 North IN THE DIVISION The Lions claimed their 14th win against NFC North opponents under Jim Caldwell. Including a 3-0 record this year, Detroit is tied for fifth in the NFL for divisional wins since 2014.
NFL Leaders, Divisional Wins Since 2014 Rk Team G W L T Pct 1 KC 21 16 5 0.762 2t GB 22 15 7 0.682 2t Hou 21 15 6 0.714 2t Pit 21 15 6 0.714 5t Den 22 14 8 0.636 5t Det 21 14 7 0.667 5t Ind 21 14 7 0.667 5t NE 19 14 5 0.737 5t Sea 21 14 6 1.690 RECENT RECORD VS. CHICAGO Under Jim Caldwell the Lions are 6-1 against Chicago and 3-1 at Soldier Field. Dating back to 2013, the Lions have now won eight out of the past nine games against Chicago. With the victory over the Bears, the Lions claimed their best nine-game stretch (8-1) against Chicago since they won 11 of 12 games from 1968-73. LIONS IN NOVEMBER A win over the Bears gave the Lions their 11th win in November since the 2014 season. Detroit joined Seattle as the only teams with 11+ wins in November over the past four seasons. In 14 November games since 2014, the Lions have accumulated an 11-3 record, the second-most wins during this span. NFL Leaders, Wins in November Since 2014 Rk Team G W L T Pct 1t Sea 15 11 4 0.733 (Pending MNF) 1t Det 14 11 3 0.786 3t NE 13 10 3 0.769 3t KC 15 10 5 0.667 Detroit s 11-3 record in the past four seasons represents the NFL s best winning percentage (.786) in the month of November. NFL Leaders, Win Percentage in November Since 2014 Rk Team G W L T Pct 1 Det 14 11 3 0.786 2 NE 13 10 3 0.769 3 Sea 15 11 4 0.733 4 Ind 13 9 4 0.692 5 KC 15 10 5 0.667 Detroit extended its League-best winning streak in November games to nine-straight wins dating back to 2015. Two seasons ago, the Lions returned from a BYE and won their final three November games, then followed that with a 3-0 slate in 2016. This month, Detroit is 3-0 with wins at Green Bay (30-17), vs. Cleveland (38-24) and at Chicago (27-24). NFL Leaders, Current Win Streaks in November Rk Team G 1 Det 9 2t Pit 4 2t NE 4 2t NO 4 Detroit tied the team s second-longest winning streak in November with a win over the Bears. The only other streaks with 9+ wins in November occurred in 1953-55 (10) and 1950-52 (9). Lions Leaders, 8-Game Win Streaks in November Rk Years Streak 1 1953-55 10 2 1950-52 9 2 2015-9
TOTAL RETURN TOUCHDOWNS Detroit tied a team single-season record by registering its SEVENTH return touchdown of the season on CB DJ Hayden s 27-yard fumble return touchdown in the second quarter at Chicago. The Lions have now tallied seven return touchdowns in eight different seasons (1937, 1950, 1954, 1971 1994, 2003, 2011 and 2017). Lions Leaders, Single-Season Total Returns Rk Year KR PR Int Fum PntB FGB FGR Tot 1t 1937 0 0 3 4 0 0 0 7 1t 1950 1 0 3 3 0 0 0 7 1t 1954 1 2 2 2 0 0 0 7 1t 1971 2 0 3 2 0 0 0 7 1t 1994 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 7 1t 2003 1 2 1 3 0 0 0 7 1t 2011 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 7 1t 2017 0 2 3 2 0 0 0 7 Through 10 games, the Lions lead the NFL in total return touchdowns with 7. 2017 NFL Leaders, Total Return Touchdowns Rk Team G TD 1 Det 10 7 2t Bal 10 6 2t Jac 10 6 4t Hou 10 4 4t NO 10 4 4t LARm 10 4 POINTS SCORED The Lions totaled 27 points in the team s win at Chicago. Detroit has now scored 27+ points in four of the team s past five games and averaged 29.6 points per game during that span. Through 10 games, the Lions 271 total points ranks as the fifth-most points in team history through the season s first 10 games Lions Leaders, Total Points Through 10 Games Rk Year G Pts Pts/G 1 2011 10 301 30.1 2 1954 10 299 29.9 3 1951 10 295 29.5 4 1950 10 273 27.3 5 2017 10 271 27.1 CB DJ HAYDEN In the second quarter, CB DJ Hayden picked up a Bears fumble and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown. On the play, Hayden recorded his first-career fumble recovery and first-career touchdown. Hayden s fumble return touchdown was the second of the season for the Lions and the fifth scored by the defense via interception or fumble returns. K MATT PRATER K Matt Prater connected on a 52-yard game-winning field goal with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter that propelled the Lions to a 27-24 victory at Chicago. With wind gusts of 16-20 mph and a wind chill of 23 degrees at kickoff, Prater made two fourth-quarter field goals, including a 27-yarder, that were crucial in the team s road victory. Prater s 52-yard field goal tied K John Kasay (42, 1991-2011) for the THIRD-MOST career 50+-yard field goals in NFL history. NFL Leaders, Career 50-Yard Field Goals Rk Player G M Years 1 S. Janikowski 268 55 2000-2 J. Hanson 327 52 1992-2012 3t J. Kasay 301 42 1991-2011 3t M. Prater 149 42 2007-
Prater has now made 21-of-24 field goal attempts this season and has reached 20+ field goals in a season for the fourth time since joining the Lions in 2014. This accounts for his eighth career season with 20+ field goals. GAME-WINNING/GAME-TYING KICKS Prater s 52-yard field goal with 1:35 left to play was his 13th career game-winning kick with less than 2:00 to play in the fourth quarter or in overtime. It was Prater s third career game-winning 50+-yard field goal with less than 2:00 to play in the fourth quarter or OT. Overall, he now has made 19 game-winning or game-tying field goals with under 4:00 to play in the fourth quarter or in overtime. He now has five such kicks of 50+ yards. Prater s Career Game-Winning FGs under 2:00 in 4th Qtr/OT No Date Tm Opp Score Dist. Qtr Time 1 10/11/09 Den NE W, 20-17 41 OT 10:09 2 10/23/11 Den at Mia W, 18-15 52 OT 7:24 3 11/27/11 Den at SD W, 16-13 37 OT 0:29 4 12/4/11 Den at Min W, 35-32 23 4 0:00 5 12/11/11 Den Chi W, 13-10 51 OT 8:34 6 10/6/13 Den at Dal W, 51-48 28 4 0:00 7 10/26/14 Det at Atl W, 22-21 48 4 0:00 8 10/18/15 Det at Chi W, 37-34 27 OT 2:29 9 9/11/16 Det at Ind W, 39-35 43 4 :04 10 10/9/16 Det Phi W, 24-23 29 4 1:28 11 10/16/16 Det LA W, 31-28 24 4 1:29 12 11/24/16 Det Min W, 16-13 40 4 0:00 13 11/19/17 Det at Chi W, 27-24 52 4 1:35 Prater s Career Game-Winning or Game-Tying FGs under 4:00 in 4th Qtr/OT No Date Tm Opp Score Dist. Qtr Time 1 10/11/09 Den NE W, 20-17 41 OT 10:09 2 10/23/11 Den at Mia W, 18-15 52 OT 7:24 3 11/27/11 Den at SD W, 16-13 24* 4 1:34 4 11/27/11 Den at SD W, 16-13 37 OT 0:29 5 12/4/11 Den at Min W, 35-32 46* 4 1:33 6 12/4/11 Den at Min W, 35-32 23 4 0:00 7 12/11/11 Den Chi W, 13-10 59* 4 0:03 8 12/11/11 Den Chi W, 13-10 51 OT 8:34 9 10/6/13 Den at Dal W, 51-48 28 4 0:00 10 10/26/14 Det at Atl W, 22-21 48 4 0:00 11 12/14/14 Det Min W, 16-14 33 4 3:38 12 10/18/15 Det at Chi W, 37-34 27 OT 2:29 13 9/11/16 Det at Ind W, 39-35 43 4 0:04 14 10/9/16 Det Phi W, 24-23 29 4 1:28 15 10/16/16 Det LA W, 31-28 24 4 1:29 16 10/6/16 Det at Min W, 22-16 58* 4 0:00 17 11/24/16 Det Min W, 16-13 48* 4 1:45 18 11/24/16 Det Min W, 16-13 40 4 0:00 19 11/19/17 Det at Chi W, 27-24 52 4 1:35 * Game-tying field goal WR MARVIN JONES, JR. In the second quarter at Chicago, WR Marvin Jones Jr. scored on a 28-yard touchdown catch, his 25th TD reception of his career. In 2017, Jones now has six touchdown grabs, and he has 10 since joining the Lions last season. Jones has now logged a single-season career-high four touchdown receptions of 20+ yards and is tied for first in the NFL.
2017 NFL Leaders, 20+-Yard Receiving Touchdowns Rk Player Team TD 1t D. Hopkins Hou 4 1t R. Anderson NYJ 4 1t W. Fuller Hou 4 1t M. Jones Det 4 1t T. Hill KC 4 QB MATTHEW STAFFORD In the Lions 27-24 win at Chicago, QB Matthew Stafford completed 21-of-31 passes (67.7 pct.) for 299 yards, 2 touchdowns and produced a passer rating of 120.2. Stafford also led the Lions on a 9-play, 42-yard game-winning drive that was completed with a game-winning field goal. With 299 passing yards, Stafford joined QB Peyton Manning (33,189) as the only quarterbacks to reach 33,000 career passing yards before the age of 30. In 119 career games, Stafford has compiled 33,063 career passing yards. (Credit: Elias Sports Bureau) NFL Leaders, Passing Yards - Under Age 30 Rk Player Yds 1 P.Manning 33189 2 M.Stafford 33063 3 D.Marino 31830 4 D.Bledsoe 29657 5 M.Ryan 28166 Additionally, Stafford became the fourth player in NFL history to record 33,000 career yards in his first nine seasons. NFL Leaders, Passing Yards 1st 9 Seasons Rk Player G Yds Yds/G Years 1 M. Ryan 142 37701 265.5 2008-16 2 P. Manning 144 37586 261.0 1998-2006 3 D. Marino 135 35386 262.1 1983-91 4 M. Stafford 119 33063 277.8 2009- The Lions took the lead in the second quarter when Stafford led two touchdown drives that ended with TD tosses of 28 and 2 yards. In the quarter, Stafford was 9-of-11 for 153 yards with 2 TDs with a passer rating of 158.3. It was the second time in his career that he has attempted 10+ passes in a quarter and totaled a perfect 158.3 passer rating. This other quarter Stafford hit this mark was in the second quarter at Tampa Bay September 11, 2011 (9-11, 159 yds, 2 TD). Stafford s touchdown throw to WR Marvin Jones, Jr. of 28 yards was his 10th touchdown pass this season of 20+ yards. This marks the second season of his career (12 in 2011) that he has thrown at least 10 touchdown passes of 20+ yards. Stafford s Single-Season 20+-Yard Passing Touchdowns Rk Year TD 1 2011 12 2 2017 10 3 2013 8 2017 NFL Leaders, 20+-Yard Passing Touchdowns Rk Player Team TD 1 M. Stafford Det 10 2 J. McCown NYJ 9 3t C. Wentz Phi 8 3t P. Rivers LAC 8 3t A. Smith KC 8 Stafford also joined Hall of Fame QB Bobby Layne (11 in 1950 and 13 in 1951) and Earl Morrall (12 in 1963) as the only Lions quarterbacks to throw 10+ touchdown passes of 20+ yards through the first 10 games in team history.
Lions Leaders, Single Season 20+Yard Touchdowns Through 10 Games Rk Player Year TD 1 B. Layne 1951 13 2 E. Morrall 1963 12 3 B. Layne 1950 11 4 M. Stafford 2017 10 STAFFORD S GAME-WINNING DRIVES Stafford registered his 31 st career game-winning drive (trailing or tied in the fourth quarter or OT) in the Lions 27-24 win at Chicago and the second in the past two weeks. He is now tied with QB Drew Bledsoe (31, 1993-2005) for 15 th on the all-time career game-winning drives list as compiled by Profootballreference.com. NFL Leaders, Career Game-Winning Drives Rk Player GWD Years 1 P. Manning 54 1998-2015 2 D. Marino 47 1983-99 3 B. Favre 43 1991-2010 4t T. Brady 41 2000-4t D. Brees 41 2001-6 J. Elway 40 1983-98 7 J. Unitas 38 1956-73 8t W. Moon 35 1984-2000 8t C.Palmer 35 2003-8t B. Roethlisberger 35 2004-11t E. Manning 34 2004-11t M. Ryan 34 2008-13t F. Tarkenton 33 1961-78 13t V. Testaverde 33 1987-2007 15t D. Bledsoe 31 1993-2005 15t M. Stafford 31 2009- Credit: Profootballreference.com WR GOLDEN TATE With 3 receptions at Chicago, WR Golden Tate passed TE Charlie Sanders (336, 1968-77) to take sole possession for SIXTH on the team s career receptions list. In 58 career games with the Lions, Tate has gathered 339 catches. Lions Leaders, Career Receptions Rk Player G Rec Years 1 C. Johnson 135 731 2007-15 2 H. Moore 145 670 1991-2001 3 J. Morton 126 469 1994-2001 4 B. Perriman 94 428 1991-96 5 B. Sanders 153 352 1989-98 6 G. Tate 58 339 2014-7 C. Sanders 128 336 1968-77 WR TJ JONES With four catches for 55 yards, WR TJ Jones tied a single-game high in receptions. It was the third time in his career he has caught four passes in a game, including twice this year. TE ERIC EBRON At Chicago, TE Eric Ebron played in his 50th career game as he caught four passes for 49 yards. WR KENNY GOLLADAY Rookie WR Kenny Golladay recorded a team-long 40-yard reception at Chicago, which was Golladay s third 40+-yard reception of the season. Golladay is now tied for the eighth-most receptions of 40+ yards in the NFL this season.
2017 NFL Leaders, 40+-Yard Receptions Rk Player Team Rec 1 B. Cooks NE 6 2t M. Goodwin SF 5 2t T.Y. Hilton Ind 5 2t A. Brown Pit 5 5t A.J. Green Cin 4 5t T. Ginn NO 4 5t A. Thielen Min 4 8t S. Diggs Min 3 8t K. Golladay Det 3 8t T. Gurley LARm 3 8t T. Hill KC 3 8t J. Smith-Schuster Pit 3 CB DARIUS SLAY At Chicago, CB Darius Slay notched two pass defenses against the Bears and joined CB Bryant Westbrook and CB Dré Bly as the only Lions defensive players with multiple seasons recording 15+ pass defenses since 1991. Slay registered a career-high 17 pass defenses in 2014. Westbrook and Bly each had three seasons with 15+ pass defenses. Lions Leaders, Career Pass Defenses Since 1991 Rk Player G PD Seasons 1 B. Westbrook 64 69 1997-2001 2 D. Bly 55 65 2003-06 3 D. Slay 68 63 2013- S TAVON WILSON For the second consecutive game, S Tavon Wilson notched 7 total tackles. He also notched his 200 th tackle of his career. In 78 games, he has now totaled 204 total tackles. With 1 Tackle for Loss against the Bears, Wilson has now registered 10 TFLs since joining the Lions in 2016. Over the past two seasons, Wilson is one of five safeties with 10+ TFLs and ranks fourth in the NFL this season. NFL Leaders, TFLs by Defensive Backs Since 2016 Rk Player Pos TFL 1 T. Jefferson S 18 2 J. Addae S 12 3t T. Wilson S 10 3t L. Collins S 10 3t K. Vaccaro S 10 2017 NFL Leaders, TFLs by Defensive Backs Rk Player Pos TFL 1 J. Addae S 9 2 D. Kindred S 8 3 J. Adams S 7 4 Tavon Wilson S 6 LB TAHIR WHITEHEAD With 1 Tackle for Loss at Chicago, LB Tahir Whitehead registered his 20th career TFL. He is the third Lions linebacker since TFLs were first tracked in 2008 to reach 20+ TFLs. Whitehead finished with a team-high 9 total tackles and 8 solo tackles. LB STEVE LONGA In his 10th career game, LB Steve Longa led the Lions with a career-high 3 special teams tackles. This was the second game of his career with multiple special teams tackles.