Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: 2008 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-11-02, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 27–23 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 26 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Orlovsky (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with -3.58 total EPA, and +8.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Johnson (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.57 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-24.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (:06) (Shotgun) 6-D.Orlovsky pass incomplete deep right to 81-C.Johnson (44-K.Payne).

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 C. Johnson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +7.57 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
2. 2 S. McDonald · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +7.24 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.21 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Davis · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +6.00 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.20 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Hester · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +3.20 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Orton · Chicago Bears · Rushing · +2.69 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.69 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Furrey · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.55 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Forte · Chicago Bears · Rushing · +1.79 total EPA · 22 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Orton · Chicago Bears · Passing · +1.63 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.10 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

• Chicago Bears — K. Orton (Q1 49:40)
• Detroit Lions — unlisted player (Q2 43:25)
• Detroit Lions — C. Johnson (D. Orlovsky pass) (Q2 43:14)
• Detroit Lions — S. McDonald (D. Orlovsky pass) (Q2 36:55)
• Chicago Bears — R. Davis (R. Grossman pass) (Q3 22:05)
• Chicago Bears — R. Grossman (Q4 5:44)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q1 56:19)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q2 34:46)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 31:10)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 10–0. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the DET 18 (Q1 56:19) — (11:19) 9-R.Gould 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 5 (Q1 49:40) — (4:40) 18-K.Orton left end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 49:32) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 23–3. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 1 (Q2 43:25) — (13:25) 34-Kevin Smith left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 17 (Q2 43:14) — (13:14) 6-D.Orlovsky pass deep right to 81-C.Johnson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 43:08) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 14 (Q2 36:55) — (6:55) 6-D.Orlovsky pass short left to 84-S.McDonald for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 36:48) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the DET 23 (Q2 34:46) — (4:46) 9-R.Gould 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the CHI 34 (Q2 31:10) — (1:10) 4-J.Hanson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris..

The third quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–0. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 6 (Q3 22:05) — (7:05) 8-R.Grossman pass short middle to 81-R.Davis for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q3 22:00) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The fourth quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–0. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q4 5:44) — (5:44) 8-R.Grossman left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q4 5:36) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q4 0:06) — (:06) (Shotgun) 6-D.Orlovsky pass incomplete deep right to 81-C.Johnson (44-K.Payne). [WPA -24.2% · EPA -1.50]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 2:25) — (2:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-D.Orlovsky pass short left to 86-M.Gaines to CHI 44 for 6 yards (55-L.Briggs). FUMBLES (55-L.Briggs), RECOVERED by CHI-55-L.Briggs at CHI 44. 55-L.Briggs to CHI 44 for no [WPA -19.5% · EPA -3.48]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 13:00) — (13:00) 6-D.Orlovsky pass deep middle intended for 81-C.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 20-C.Steltz at CHI -1. 20-C.Steltz pushed ob at CHI 43 for 44 yards (66-S.Peterman). PENALTY on CHI-93-A.Ogunleye, Unnece [WPA -15.9% · EPA -4.58]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 6:56) — (6:56) 22-M.Forte left guard to DET 1 for 19 yards (24-K.Pearson). [WPA +15.4% · EPA +2.24]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 43:21) — 4-J.Hanson kicks 67 yards from DET 30 to CHI 3. 23-D.Hester to CHI 18 for 15 yards (59-A.Lewis). FUMBLES (59-A.Lewis), RECOVERED by DET-59-A.Lewis at CHI 17. 59-A.Lewis to CHI 17 for no gain (20-C.Ste [WPA -14.8% · EPA -5.24]

Impact plays

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

• Chicago Bears (Q2 43:21) — 4-J.Hanson kicks 67 yards from DET 30 to CHI 3. 23-D.Hester to CHI 18 for 15 yards (59-A.Lewis). FUMBLES (59-A.Lewis), RECOVERED by DET-59-A.Lewis at CHI 17. 59-A.Lewis to CHI 17 for no gain (20-C.Ste [WPA -14.8% · EPA -5.24]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 13:00) — (13:00) 6-D.Orlovsky pass deep middle intended for 81-C.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 20-C.Steltz at CHI -1. 20-C.Steltz pushed ob at CHI 43 for 44 yards (66-S.Peterman). PENALTY on CHI-93-A.Ogunleye, Unnece [WPA -15.9% · EPA -4.58]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 11:46) — (11:46) (Shotgun) 8-R.Grossman pass short right intended for 82-G.Olsen INTERCEPTED by 99-D.White (95-J.DeVries) at CHI 32. 99-D.White to CHI 36 for -4 yards (8-R.Grossman). Chicago challenged the pas [WPA -13.3% · EPA -3.67]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 2:25) — (2:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-D.Orlovsky pass short left to 86-M.Gaines to CHI 44 for 6 yards (55-L.Briggs). FUMBLES (55-L.Briggs), RECOVERED by CHI-55-L.Briggs at CHI 44. 55-L.Briggs to CHI 44 for no [WPA -19.5% · EPA -3.48]

Quarterback report card

D.Orlovsky led all passers in efficiency for Detroit Lions, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Orlovsky (Detroit Lions) · 48 dropbacks · 58.3% completion · +8.2% CPOE · -0.07 EPA/play · -3.58 total EPA
• R.Grossman (Chicago Bears) · 19 dropbacks · 47.4% completion · -6.4% CPOE · -0.34 EPA/play · -6.46 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Detroit Lions -0.07, Chicago Bears -0.05) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Chicago Bears: 14 drives, -4.38 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 15 drives, -6.36 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Chicago Bears leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• C. Johnson (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Orlovsky (DET) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• R. Grossman (CHI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q1 56:19 · DET 18 · Score 0-3
   (11:19) 9-R.Gould 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
2. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q1 49:40 · DET 5 · Score 0-9
   (4:40) 18-K.Orton left end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q1 49:32 · DET 2 · Score 0-10
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
4. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 43:25 · CHI 1 · Score 6-10
   (13:25) 34-Kevin Smith left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 43:14 · CHI 17 · Score 12-10
   (13:14) 6-D.Orlovsky pass deep right to 81-C.Johnson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 43:08 · CHI 2 · Score 13-10
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
7. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 36:55 · CHI 14 · Score 19-10
   (6:55) 6-D.Orlovsky pass short left to 84-S.McDonald for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 36:48 · CHI 2 · Score 20-10
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
9. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 34:46 · DET 23 · Score 20-13
   (4:46) 9-R.Gould 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
10. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 31:10 · CHI 34 · Score 23-13
    (1:10) 4-J.Hanson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
11. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q3 22:05 · DET 6 · Score 23-19
    (7:05) 8-R.Grossman pass short middle to 81-R.Davis for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q3 22:00 · DET 2 · Score 23-20
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
13. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 5:44 · DET 1 · Score 23-26
    (5:44) 8-R.Grossman left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 5:36 · DET 2 · Score 23-27
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.