Lions rout Bears 52-21, turn focus to daunting trip to Baltimore
Jared Goff throws five touchdowns as Detroit dominates Chicago but faces the challenge of containing Lamar Jackson and the Ravens next week
DETROIT — The Detroit Lions bounced back from a season-opening loss with a dominant 52-21 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, but the celebration will be short-lived as they travel to Baltimore next Monday to face the Ravens.
"It always feels good to get that first win of the season behind you," coach Dan Campbell said. "Every win is special, but there's something really special about getting that first win. But this is a long season, and you have to keep getting better and better."
Quarterback Jared Goff completed 23 of 28 passes for 334 yards and five touchdowns, while Amon-Ra St. Brown caught nine passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns. Jameson Williams had only two receptions but they covered 108 yards and produced a score. The Lions opened holes for 177 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns after managing just 47 yards on the ground and no rushing scores in Week 1 against Green Bay.
Campbell credited the offensive line with a marked improvement, saying protection, run fits and surge at the line helped both the passing and rushing games. Detroit did not allow a sack after Goff was taken down four times in the opener.
The defense contributed to the win, sacking Bears quarterback Caleb Williams four times, forcing two turnovers and securing two stops on fourth down. Safety-defensive back hybrid Brian Branch had six tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. The Lions allowed 134 rushing yards at a 5.0 yards-per-carry clip in a game in which the Bears largely played from behind.
Special teams miscues included a missed 55-yard field-goal attempt by kicker Jake Bates. Defensive end Marcus Davenport left the game with a shoulder injury; Campbell said the team was seeking multiple medical opinions and did not expect the injury to be long-term but acknowledged Davenport's availability against Baltimore was uncertain. Guard Christian Mahogany suffered a leg injury on a late extra point that is not considered serious.
Detroit converted four opportunities created by the defense into 14 points, a figure Campbell said he wanted to improve. The Lions' balanced offensive performance and improved pass protection were major themes, but the upcoming matchup in Baltimore poses a much stiffer test.
The Lions have not beaten the Ravens in 20 years and have lost five straight to Baltimore, including a 38-6 loss in 2023 when the Ravens amassed more than 500 yards of offense. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson produced nearly 400 yards of total offense in that meeting, presenting a dual-threat challenge the Lions must address.
Detroit's task will be to carry the momentum from a complete performance against Chicago into a road environment against one of the NFL's most dynamic offenses. The Lions showed progress on both sides of the ball Sunday, but stopping Jackson and the Ravens' explosive playmaking will be the immediate priority as the team tries to build on its first win of the season.