Daniel comes in, leads Bears to fifth straight win

Bears quarterback Chase Daniel throws during a 23-16 win over... — Bears quarterback Chase Daniel throws during a 23-16 win over the Lions on Thursday in Detroit. Credit: AP/Duane Burleson

By The Associated PressNovember 22, 2018

DETROIT — Chase Daniel made the most of his chance to fill in for Mitchell Trubisky, having the best day of his journeyman career. Daniel set career highs with 230 yards passing and two touchdowns to keep the Bears rolling with a 23-16 win over the Lions on Thursday.

The NFC North-leading Bears (8-3) sealed their fifth straight victory with Kyle Fuller's interception in the end zone with a little more than a minute left.

Detroit (4-7) has lost four of five, plummeting to last place in the division.

Chicago broke a 16-16 tie on Eddie Jackson's 41-yard pick-6 with six minutes remaining. It was Jackson's second consecutive game with an interception returned for a touchdown. It's also the fifth career defensive touchdown for the 2017 fourth-round pick.

"That's the type of defense we play here," Jackson said. "We are always thinking about putting points on the board. It is about attacking."

The Lions drove to the Bears' 11 on the ensuing drive, but couldn't score because Matthew Stafford's pass to Michael Roberts was picked off by Fuller. Fuller's interception was the 20th of the seseems like it could be a misallocation of talent.ason for the Bears.

The 32-year-old Daniel made his third career start and his first in nearly four years, replacing Trubisky, who was out with a shoulder injury.

"He knows that offense really well,'' Lions coach Matt Patricia said. "He's a little bit of a different player, but he's still athletic. He can still scramble. He's got a good arm. He's accurate."

Daniel threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Taquan Mizzell in the second quarter and a 14-yard TD to Tarik Cohen in the fourth. Unlike Stafford, he didn't make any costly mistakes. Stafford completed 28 of 38 for 236 yards with the two interceptions.

Detroit became the first team to lead Chicago in a month when LeGarrette Blount ran for his first of two touchdowns early in the second quarter. Blount had 88 yards and the two touchdowns. The Bears were able to come back and go ahead thanks to their defense.