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| Matt Forte races down the sideline on an 89-yard TD reception during the second quarter. |
The Bears avoided an embarrassing loss to the Detroit Lions in their season opener Sunday, with the aid of a controversial ruling in the final minute.
Jay Cutler passed 28 yards to Matt Forte with 1:32 left in the fourth period for a 19-14 victory in front of 59,281 fans.
With starting quarterback Matthew Stafford on the sideline for the entire second half, the Lions appeared to score a go-ahead touchdown with 24 second left when Shaun Hill passed to Calvin Johnson in the end zone. Johnson came down with the ball but then dropped it, and an official review upheld the ruling on the field of no catch.
Here is how the NFL rule pertaining to the play reads:
"If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete."
The Lions nearly snapped a 20-game road losing streak but could not outlast the turnover-prone Bears. Detroit's last road victory had been on Oct. 28, 2007, against the Bears.
The Bears had missed a golden opportunity to take the lead when linebacker Lance Briggs sacked Hill, forcing a fumble that Briggs recovered at the Lions' 1-yard line with 10:37 left in the fourth period. Yet the Bears were unable to score.
Two runs by Forte and an incomplete pass set up a fourth-and-goal. Coach Lovie Smith decided to go for it on fourth down. Forte was stopped yet again and the Lions retained their 14-13 lead.
The Bears defense forced a Lions punt and started their next drive at the Detroit 41 with 6:20 left in the fourth period, but could not capitalize.
The Bears trailed 14-13 at halftime, roaring back with 10 straight points late in the second quarter after falling behind 14-3. The third quarter was scoreless as turnovers stymied the Bears.
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford injured his right shoulder on a second-quarter sack by Julius Peppers and was ruled out for the game early in the third period as he sat along the sideline with his shoulder in a sling. Stafford completed 11 of 15 first-half passes for 83 yards.
For the Bears, linebacker Nick Roach left the game with a hamstring injury and Hunter Hillenmeyer was said to have an illness.
The Bears took a 3-0 lead with 9:03 left in the first period, when Cutler led an impressive 11-play, 64-yard drive to the Lions' 2-yard line. The drive included passes completions to Devin Aromashodu (2 for 29 yards) and Devin Hester (1 for 17) as the Bears tried to take advantage of nine new secondary members on the Lions roster . A third-down rush by Forte from the 2 was stopped, leading to the field goal attempt.
Cutler threw into triple coverage as he tried to hit Johnny Knox on a third-and-20 situation in the first period. The pass was tipped by linebacker Julian Peterson and intercepted by cornerback Aaron Berry, who returned it 23 yards.
The Lions capitalized on the turnover as rookie Jahvid Best darted seven yards for a touchdown to cap a seven-play, 42-yard drive. The drive included a roughing the passer penalty on Peppers. Jason Hanson converted for a 7-3 Lions lead with 2:15 to go in the opening period.
Detroit built its lead to 14-3 on a four-yard run by Best with 1:33 left in the first half, but Forte answered by taking a short pass from Cutler and racing 89 yards for a TD to make it 14-10 with 1:30 remaining.
The Bears turned the ball over early in the second period. Tight end Greg Olsen caught a four-yard pass from Cutler but had the ball jarred away and recovered by Peterson. The Bears defense stiffened, however, forcing a three-and-out by the Lions.
Forte also lost a second-period fumble that was recovered by Detroit's Cliff Avril.
Losers of 20 consecutive road games, the Lions went up 14-3 when Best added his second TD of the day from four yards out with 1:30 left until intermission. The drive covered 10 plays, 60 yards.
The Bears finally answered on an 89-yard pass play from Cutler to Forte with 1:03 to go until halftime. The TD play was reviewed but was upheld. Gould converted to pull the Bears within 14-10.
Following a sack of Stafford by Peppers and fumble recovery by Tommie Harris, the Bears set themselves up for a 31-yard field goal by Gould to make it 14-13.
The inactives for the Bears were defensive tackle Marvin Harrison, safety Craig Steltz (coming off an ankle injury), running back Kahlil Bell, receiver Earl Bennett, quarterback Caleb Hanie, cornerback Josh Moore, defensive end Corey Wootton, and offensive lineman J'Marcus Webb.
Inactive for the Lions are running back Kevin Smith, last year's starting running back, quarterback Drew Stanton, receiver Derrick Williams, linebacker DeAndre Levy, guard Manny Ramirez, tackle Jason Fox, defensive end Willie Young, and defensive end Lawrence Jackson
