The Detroit Lions have elevated pratfalls to touchdowns and gadget play to an art form. Ben Johnson, the coordinator, devised a phoney stretch run play against the Bears in which Jared Goff feigned a misstep, and then Jahmyr Gibbs feigned a falling behind. However, Goff made enough progress to finish the play and pass the ball to Sam LaPorta for the score. LaPorta’s 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter gave the Lions a 20-point advantage and helped them win the game 34–17 after the Bears had reduced their lead to 27–14 at the half.
Three single-season franchise records are broken by the Lions, making history.
In the 2024 season, the Detroit Lions broke three franchise records in a single season. They had won 13 games this season, which is the highest in a single season, after their 34-17 triumph on Sunday. They could shatter the record with more victories with two games left in the regular season.
With 493 points this season, the Lions have surpassed the previous record of 2011, setting a single-season franchise record. Their remarkable scoring rate of over 40 points in five games served as the foundation for their performance. However, when they scored their 59th touchdown of the season, they set still another single-season record, and after Sam LaPorta added another in the second half, Detroit now has 60 touchdowns.
“That was one of his ideas, Ben,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell stated on the team’s website following the game. We worked it and massaged it. How can we improve this situation? It’s just the offensive line—Goff, Gibby, and LaPorta—making it work. They performed a fantastic job, and we cooked it all week.” According to Jared Goff, “we ran it three or four times during the week,” “It began on Monday when Ben asked me whether he believed I could intentionally fumble and then pick it back up. “I don’t know about that,” I answered.
Gibbs was supposed to fake a fumble and dive, but Goff held onto the ball the entire time. LaPorta sped past the secondary in the clear after the Bears ran a play from outside the red zone on first-and-10, which resulted in a delayed pass rush. “I think the part with Gibbs where he dives really sells the play,” Goff stated. “It worked like a charm.”
After their recent unfortunate injuries, the Lions’ outstanding performance on Sunday, which included a brilliant trick play, served to lighten the atmosphere. The coaches and players put a lot of effort into the play, and it paid off because the Lions recently suffered just their second loss of the season. Campbell remarked, “It was just great to see,”
For the Lions, the 2024 season ought to be regarded as a permanent record. They will be able to add a lot more records to their collection, such as a Super Bowl victory and first-time appearance.