Lions hang on after Bears let clock run out in all-time blunder

The Detroit Lions held on for a dramatic 23-20 victory on Thanksgiving Day after a puzzling clock management decision by the Chicago Bears left them with no time to attempt a potential game-tying field goal.

Caleb Williams was sacked with just over 30 seconds remaining at the Lions' 41-yard-line on the Bears' final drive. However, instead of using their final timeout, the Bears watched the clock run down before finally snapping the ball with 6 seconds remaining. Williams' final pass downfield fell incomplete as time expired.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters postgame that he'd hoped to run a play with around 18 seconds left, throw the ball, and then call a timeout, according to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.

"I think we handled it the right way," Eberflus said, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "It didn't work out the way we wanted to."

Williams said he was in no position to override the plan and call a timeout as time ticked down.

"In that situation, I'm living with the call and letting coaches make that decision," the rookie quarterback said. "Maybe in the later years of my career (I might make the decision); right now, I get the call and I'm trying to lead my team to a win."

Wide receiver DJ Moore also was confused about the game-ending sequence of events.

"I don't think we huddled. We just got right back on the ball and ran a play, so like I said, I don't know why we didn't call a timeout," Moore said in the locker room, according to Marquee Sports Network.

He added: "We keep coming back in these games and be having time to actually win the games and we just shit the bed."

The Bears' final drive began at their own 1-yard line before coming up short.

Chicago fell behind 16-0 and then scored 20 of the game's final 27 points, including a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter.

Williams was especially impressive in the second half, throwing three touchdown passes. Veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen hauled in two of the rookie's scores while Moore hauled in the other.

Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was responsible for both of his team's touchdowns. Jared Goff completed 21 of his 34 passes for 221 yards and two scores. David Montgomery finished with 88 rushing yards while Jahmyr Gibbs also tallied 87 yards on the ground.

The Bears have now lost six games in a row, several of them in heartbreaking fashion. They lost on a game-winning Hail Mary pass in Week 8 to the Washington Commanders and a blocked potential game-winning field-goal attempt versus the Green Bay Packers in Week 11.

Chicago dropped to 4-8 while Detroit improved to 11-1. The Lions can now clinch a playoff berth this week, though they'd need one of six possible scenarios to come to fruition.