Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: 2010 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2010 NFL season on 2010-09-12, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 19–14 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Cutler (Chicago Bears) paced the passing game, with -2.43 total EPA, and +6.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Forte (Chicago Bears) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.23 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-28.7% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (10:45) 14-Sh.Hill to DET 1 for -8 yards (55-L.Briggs). FUMBLES (55-L.Briggs), RECOVERED by CHI-55-L.Briggs at DET 1. 55-L.Briggs to DET 1 for no gain (14-Sh.Hill).

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 M. Forte · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +7.23 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Scheffler · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.89 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Pettigrew · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.02 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.01 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Stafford · Detroit Lions · Passing · +2.01 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Morris · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.35 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.68 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Hester · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +0.97 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Johnson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +0.92 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Taylor · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +0.92 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.23 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 — J. Best (Q1 47:19)
• Detroit Lions — J. Best (Q2 31:33)
• Chicago Bears — M. Forte (J. Cutler pass) (Q2 31:18)
• Chicago Bears — M. Forte (J. Cutler pass) (Q4 1:40)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q1 54:06)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q2 30:04)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–3. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the DET 2 (Q1 54:06) — (9:06) 9-R.Gould 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 7 (Q1 47:19) — (2:19) (Shotgun) 44-J.Best left tackle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q1 47:15) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris..

The second quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 10–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 4 (Q2 31:33); Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 31:30) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 89 (Q2 31:18); Chicago Bears added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 31:03) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard. DET-92-C.Avril was injured during the play.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the DET 13 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 9-R.Gould 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The fourth quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 6–0. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 28 (Q4 1:40) — (1:40) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 22-M.Forte for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CHI-22-M.Forte was injured during the play..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q4 10:45) — (10:45) 14-Sh.Hill to DET 1 for -8 yards (55-L.Briggs). FUMBLES (55-L.Briggs), RECOVERED by CHI-55-L.Briggs at DET 1. 55-L.Briggs to DET 1 for no gain (14-Sh.Hill). [WPA -28.7% · EPA -5.96]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 17:10) — (2:10) 6-J.Cutler sacked at CHI 34 for -5 yards (75-T.McBride). FUMBLES (75-T.McBride) [75-T.McBride], RECOVERED by DET-91-S.Hill at CHI 39. 91-S.Hill to CHI 39 for no gain (74-C.Williams). [WPA -21.3% · EPA -5.09]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 0:18) — (:18) (Shotgun) 14-Sh.Hill pass incomplete deep left to 81-C.Johnson (38-D.Manning). [WPA -19.8% · EPA -1.91]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 15:29) — (:29) (Shotgun) 14-Shaun.Hill pass deep left intended for 81-C.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 33-C.Tillman at CHI 2. 33-C.Tillman to CHI 9 for 7 yards (84-B.Pettigrew). [WPA -18.9% · EPA -3.90]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 4:24) — (4:24) 4-B.Maynard punts 24 yards to DET 14, Center-65-P.Mannelly, out of bounds. [WPA -18.0% · EPA -0.67]

Impact plays

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

• Chicago Bears (Q2 31:18) — (1:18) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 22-M.Forte for 89 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was Upheld. [WPA +16.4% · EPA +6.93]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 10:45) — (10:45) 14-Sh.Hill to DET 1 for -8 yards (55-L.Briggs). FUMBLES (55-L.Briggs), RECOVERED by CHI-55-L.Briggs at DET 1. 55-L.Briggs to DET 1 for no gain (14-Sh.Hill). [WPA -28.7% · EPA -5.96]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 17:10) — (2:10) 6-J.Cutler sacked at CHI 34 for -5 yards (75-T.McBride). FUMBLES (75-T.McBride) [75-T.McBride], RECOVERED by DET-91-S.Hill at CHI 39. 91-S.Hill to CHI 39 for no gain (74-C.Williams). [WPA -21.3% · EPA -5.09]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 36:14) — (6:14) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 22-M.Forte to DET 27 for 16 yards (39-C.Brown). FUMBLES (39-C.Brown), RECOVERED by DET-92-C.Avril at DET 30. 92-C.Avril to DET 40 for 10 yards (57-O.Kreutz). [WPA -14.5% · EPA -4.70]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Cutler (Chicago Bears) · 50 dropbacks · 46.0% completion · +6.4% CPOE · -0.05 EPA/play · -2.43 total EPA
• S.Hill (Detroit Lions) · 19 dropbacks · 47.4% completion · -4.2% CPOE · -0.40 EPA/play · -7.69 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Chicago Bears held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.15 vs -0.23), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Chicago Bears: 15 drives, -13.47 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 14 drives, -17.19 total EPA, 2 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.
• M. Forte (Chicago Bears) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Cutler (CHI) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• S. Hill (DET) 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 54:06 · DET 2 · Score 0-3
   (9:06) 9-R.Gould 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
2. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 47:19 · CHI 7 · Score 6-3
   (2:19) (Shotgun) 44-J.Best left tackle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 47:15 · CHI 2 · Score 7-3
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
4. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 31:33 · CHI 4 · Score 13-3
   (1:33) (No Huddle) 44-J.Best left tackle to CHI 1 for 3 yards (54-B.Urlacher, 46-C.Harris). The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, a
5. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 31:30 · CHI 2 · Score 14-3
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
6. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 31:18 · DET 89 · Score 14-9
   (1:18) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 22-M.Forte for 89 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and the pla
7. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 31:03 · DET 2 · Score 14-10
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard. DET-92-C.Avril was injured during the play.
8. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · DET 13 · Score 14-13
   (:04) 9-R.Gould 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
9. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 1:40 · DET 28 · Score 14-19
   (1:40) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 22-M.Forte for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CHI-22-M.Forte was injured during the play.