Sunday afternoon’s Week 2 matchup between Chicago and Detroit wasn’t just another divisional rivalry renewed.
No, this game was more personal than usual for the Lions, who welcomed back former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, now serving as Bears head coach. Detroit had some added motivation taking on a former comrade, and it showed up in the final score as the Lions completely dominated the Bears, 52-21. Lions Pro Bowl defensive back Brian Branch spoke about how personal this one was following the blowout victory.
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“Very motivated,” Branch told ESPN. “We knew coming into this game that this is personal. Really, all these games personal, but this one we felt like we’d been betrayed, from the staff to players. And we love Ben, we still love Ben. He’s a great coach. He’s a great mastermind, but yeah, it was time to get after him.”
For his part, Branch finished the game with six solo tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble. Detroit’s defense held Johnson’s Bears offense to 339 total yards and sacked quarterback Caleb Williams four times. The Bears were able to rush for 134 yards, but negated much of that production with two turnovers (one fumble, one interception). Chicago repeatedly made things tougher by committing eight penalties in the game.
Branch still respects Johnson as a coach, but taking a job in the division, especially with the Bears, apparently struck a nerve.
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“He could’ve went anywhere else, but he’s gotta see us again,” Branch said.
The Lions had the biggest margin of victory for any team in Week 2, barring the outcomes for Monday night’s doubleheader. Detroit needed a bounce-back win after losing to Green Bay in Week 1, 27-13. The Packers manhandled the Lions in that season-opening loss, holding Detroit’s offense to 246 total yards. In Week 2, the Lions more than doubled that output, racking up 511 total yards.
Jared Goff completed 23 of 28 passes for 334 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 94 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown, while David Montgomery also added 57 yards on the ground and a touchdown of his own. Amon-Ra St. Brown led all receivers in the game with nine catches for 115 yards and three of Goff’s five touchdown passes.
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Chicago won’t get a chance at revenge until Week 18, so they will have to sit with this one for a few months. That Week 18 matchup will be in Chicago, with the time and network to be determined. The Bears host the Dallas Cowboys for Week 3 and enter that game 0-2. Detroit goes on the road in Week 3 to face the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night, with both teams coming in 1-1.
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