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Lions shut down bumbling Bears

Oct 29, 2007 - 5:07 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Bears' offense proved to be the cure for the Detroit Lions' struggles on the road.

Despite allowing 90 points in their previous two road games, the Lions were able to shut down the Bears en route to a 16-7 victory on Sunday.

Detroit now stands at 5-2 on the season.

Bears quarterback Brian Griese was 20-for-37 for only 189 yards and four big interceptions, including three in the end zone. Chicago running back Cedric Benson struggled with only 50 yards on 13 carries as the Bears managed 236 yards on offense.

"From my perspective the one thing that's really killed us is we haven't really scored many points in the first half of games," Griese said. "And I think what's happened is in the second half of some of those games, we've been coming from behind because we haven't scored many points and it doesn't give us a chance to use the balance we need to get on offense.

"Cedric is really taken out of the game in the second half because we have to throw the ball, come from behind and that's just not a recipe for success in this league."

After a slow start by both teams, Detroit's offense began to click late in the first quarter. Quarterback Jon Kitna engineered a 62-yard drive to set up a 26-yard field goal by Jason Hanson in the opening moments of the second quarter.

The key to the drive was a 47-yard pass interference call on Bears safety Adam Archuleta while defending wide receiver Roy Williams.

"We were moving the ball all day," Williams said. "At one point their fans booed their defense, which you never hear, because their defense is very good. We took advantage of their defense today. Maybe we'll see this team again in the playoffs."

Later that quarter, Kitna connected on 4-of-4 passes for 59 yards on a drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by Kevin Jones. Kitna completed 24-of-35 passes for 268 yards without an interception.

"The offensive line is protecting great," Kitna said. "When they protect like that, it's hard to turn the ball over because you're feet are clean. When you are clean as a quarterback, you're putting the ball where you want it."

Jones finished with 105 yards on 23 carries.

"We didn't even know we were going to have (Jones) at all this year," Kitna said. "To have him and to have him play at the high level he's playing at it, it's great for our team. It's a big boost to have him back."

The Bears (3-5) got the ball back with just under two minutes left in the half, but quickly gave the ball back to Detroit with 1:03 remaining. The Lions covered 44 yards in 58 seconds to set up a 52-yard field goal by Jason Hanson to take a 13-0 lead at the half.

Hanson finished with three field goals and was responsible for kicking away from Bears playmaker Devin Hester.

"From him I expect perfection," Lions coach Rod Marinelli said. "Not just the field goals, what he did with the ball on the kickoffs was really special. That's hard to do - how he can place the ball around the field."

After kicking away from Hester throughout the game, the Lions made the mistake of punting to him midway through the third quarter. Hester returned it 39 yards to the Detroit 26-yard line, setting up a 20-yard touchdown pass from Griese to rookie tight end Greg Olsen.

"Teams know what we're capable of doing with special teams so they're going to avoid it," Hester said. "Whenever we get a shot we've got to try to make them pay for it because we know each game we'll get one maybe two opportunities to make a return."

The Lions quickly answered with another Hanson field goal, this one from 20 yards, to start the fourth quarter.

The Bears drove to the Lions' 24-yard line with just under a minute left, but Detroit cornerback Fernando Bryant intercepted Griese in the end zone to halt Chicago's final drive.