Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: 2007 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2007 NFL season on 2007-10-28, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 16–7 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Griese (Chicago Bears) paced the passing game, with -12.93 total EPA, and -3.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Kitna (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.66 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+16.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (3:32) (Shotgun) 8-J.Kitna pass incomplete short right to 11-R.Williams. PENALTY on CHI-20-A.Archuleta, Defensive Pass Interference, 47 yards, enforced at DET 25 - No Play.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Kitna · Detroit Lions · Passing · +9.66 total EPA · 41 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Furrey · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.90 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.63 EPA/play
3. 3 G. Olsen · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +4.51 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
4. 4 S. McDonald · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.99 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Johnson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.17 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.58 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Williams · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.08 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Berrian · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.80 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Muhammad · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.29 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Detroit Lions — K. Jones (Q2 31:56)
• Chicago Bears — G. Olsen (B. Griese pass) (Q3 20:31)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 45:00)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 30:10)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q4 14:46)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 13–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the CHI 8 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 4-J.Hanson 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 4 (Q2 31:56) — (1:56) 34-K.Jones left guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 31:53); Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the CHI 34 (Q2 30:10) — (:10) 4-J.Hanson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris. Kick hit right upright..

The third quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–0. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 20 (Q3 20:31) — (5:31) (Shotgun) 14-B.Griese pass deep right to 82-G.Olsen for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q3 20:26) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 3–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the CHI 2 (Q4 14:46) — (14:46) 4-J.Hanson 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Detroit Lions (Q1 48:32) — (3:32) (Shotgun) 8-J.Kitna pass incomplete short right to 11-R.Williams. PENALTY on CHI-20-A.Archuleta, Defensive Pass Interference, 47 yards, enforced at DET 25 - No Play. [WPA +16.6% · EPA +4.88]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 6:55) — (6:55) 14-B.Griese pass intended for 16-M.Bradley INTERCEPTED by 42-G.Alexander at DET -5. 42-G.Alexander to DET 31 for 36 yards (69-F.Miller). [WPA -13.7% · EPA -5.02]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 35:34) — (5:34) (Shotgun) 14-B.Griese pass deep left intended for 16-M.Bradley INTERCEPTED by 26-K.Kennedy at DET 0. 26-K.Kennedy pushed ob at DET 7 for 7 yards (16-M.Bradley). [WPA -11.9% · EPA -2.83]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 14:03) — (14:03) 14-B.Griese pass intended for 80-B.Berrian INTERCEPTED by 23-K.Smith [92-S.Rogers] at DET 36. 23-K.Smith to DET 36 for no gain (80-B.Berrian). [WPA -9.9% · EPA -3.86]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 49:47) — (4:47) 9-R.Gould 40 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard. [WPA -8.3% · EPA -2.95]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Chicago Bears (Q4 6:55) — (6:55) 14-B.Griese pass intended for 16-M.Bradley INTERCEPTED by 42-G.Alexander at DET -5. 42-G.Alexander to DET 31 for 36 yards (69-F.Miller). [WPA -13.7% · EPA -5.02]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 48:32) — (3:32) (Shotgun) 8-J.Kitna pass incomplete short right to 11-R.Williams. PENALTY on CHI-20-A.Archuleta, Defensive Pass Interference, 47 yards, enforced at DET 25 - No Play. [WPA +16.6% · EPA +4.88]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 8:50) — (8:50) 34-K.Jones right end to CHI 41 for 3 yards (20-A.Archuleta, 54-B.Urlacher). FUMBLES (20-A.Archuleta), RECOVERED by CHI-92-H.Hillenmeyer at CHI 39. 92-H.Hillenmeyer to CHI 39 for no gain (51-D.R [WPA -8.1% · EPA -4.47]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 14:03) — (14:03) 14-B.Griese pass intended for 80-B.Berrian INTERCEPTED by 23-K.Smith [92-S.Rogers] at DET 36. 23-K.Smith to DET 36 for no gain (80-B.Berrian). [WPA -9.9% · EPA -3.86]

Quarterback report card

B.Griese led all passers in efficiency for Chicago Bears, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Griese (Chicago Bears) · 44 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -3.8% CPOE · -0.29 EPA/play · -12.93 total EPA
• J.Kitna (Detroit Lions) · 41 dropbacks · 58.5% completion · +12.1% CPOE · +0.24 EPA/play · +9.66 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Detroit Lions generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.00 vs -0.15), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Chicago Bears: 12 drives, -11.91 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 12 drives, -0.07 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Detroit Lions leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Kitna (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Griese (CHI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Kitna (DET) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 45:00 · CHI 8 · Score 3-0
   (15:00) 4-J.Hanson 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
2. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 31:56 · CHI 4 · Score 9-0
   (1:56) 34-K.Jones left guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 31:53 · CHI 2 · Score 10-0
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris. PENALTY on CHI-33-C.Tillman, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
4. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:10 · CHI 34 · Score 13-0
   (:10) 4-J.Hanson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris. Kick hit right upright.
5. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q3 20:31 · DET 20 · Score 13-6
   (5:31) (Shotgun) 14-B.Griese pass deep right to 82-G.Olsen for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q3 20:26 · DET 2 · Score 13-7
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
7. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 14:46 · CHI 2 · Score 16-7
   (14:46) 4-J.Hanson 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.