Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: 2020 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-12-06, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 34–30 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with +18.70 total EPA, and +4.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.70 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-46.7% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (1:54) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky sacked at CHI 9 for -8 yards (95-R.Okwara). FUMBLES (95-R.Okwara), RECOVERED by DET-91-J.Penisini at CHI 7.

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. Stafford · Detroit Lions · Passing · +18.70 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Jones · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +7.45 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Trubisky · Chicago Bears · Passing · +6.62 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Robinson · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +4.85 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Hockenson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.58 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Amendola · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.25 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.85 EPA/play
7. 7 Q. Cephus · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.96 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Miller · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +3.19 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.64 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 — D. Montgomery (Q1 51:21)
• Detroit Lions — A. Peterson (Q1 45:19)
• Chicago Bears — C. Patterson (Q2 40:14)
• Detroit Lions — Q. Cephus (M. Stafford pass) (Q2 32:33)
• Chicago Bears — D. Montgomery (Q2 30:40)
• Detroit Lions — J. James (M. Stafford pass) (Q3 19:02)
• Chicago Bears — C. Kmet (M. Trubisky pass) (Q4 11:29)
• Detroit Lions — M. Jones (M. Stafford pass) (Q4 2:24)
• Detroit Lions — A. Peterson (Q4 1:42)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — C. Santos (Q1 57:42)

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 9–6. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the DET 27 (Q1 57:42) — (12:42) 2-C.Santos 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 13 (Q1 51:21) — (6:21) 32-D.Montgomery left tackle for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 3 (Q1 45:19) — (:19) (Shotgun) 28-A.Peterson left tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The second quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 14–7. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 5 (Q2 40:14) — (10:14) 84-C.Patterson right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 40:10) — 2-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 49 (Q2 32:33) — (2:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 87-Q.Cephus for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q2 32:22) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 4 (Q2 30:40) — (:40) (Shotgun) 32-D.Montgomery left guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 30:36) — 2-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell..

The third quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 9 (Q3 19:02) — (4:02) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 83-J.James for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q3 18:55) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 14–7. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 11 (Q4 11:29) — (11:29) 10-M.Trubisky pass short left to 85-C.Kmet for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q4 11:23) — 2-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 25 (Q4 2:24) — (2:24) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 11-M.Jones for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q4 2:18) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 5 (Q4 1:42) — (1:42) 28-A.Peterson left guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q4 1:37) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox..

Turning points

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

• Chicago Bears (Q4 1:54) — (1:54) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky sacked at CHI 9 for -8 yards (95-R.Okwara). FUMBLES (95-R.Okwara), RECOVERED by DET-91-J.Penisini at CHI 7. [WPA -46.7% · EPA -4.91]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 0:16) — (:16) (Shotgun) 32-D.Montgomery left guard to DET 20 for no gain (92-K.Strong; 59-R.Ragland). Official Measurement The Replay Official reviewed the first down ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruli [WPA -29.5% · EPA -2.57]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 1:37) — (1:37) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky pass short middle to 32-D.Montgomery to CHI 41 for 16 yards (42-J.Kearse). PENALTY on DET-42-J.Kearse, Horse Collar Tackle, 15 yards, enforced at CHI 41. [WPA +12.5% · EPA +1.53]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 54:35) — (9:35) 39-J.Agnew left end to CHI 29 for no gain (24-B.Skrine). [WPA -12.2% · EPA -4.00]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 1:42) — (1:42) 28-A.Peterson left guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.2% · EPA +2.13]

Impact plays

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

• Detroit Lions (Q4 9:29) — (9:29) 9-M.Stafford pass short right intended for 83-J.James INTERCEPTED by 98-B.Nichols at CHI 47. 98-B.Nichols to DET 46 for 7 yards (67-M.Nelson). [WPA -8.2% · EPA -5.70]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 1:54) — (1:54) (Shotgun) 10-M.Trubisky sacked at CHI 9 for -8 yards (95-R.Okwara). FUMBLES (95-R.Okwara), RECOVERED by DET-91-J.Penisini at CHI 7. [WPA -46.7% · EPA -4.91]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 32:33) — (2:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 87-Q.Cephus for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.4% · EPA +4.65]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 54:35) — (9:35) 39-J.Agnew left end to CHI 29 for no gain (24-B.Skrine). [WPA -12.2% · EPA -4.00]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 45 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +4.1% CPOE · +0.42 EPA/play · +18.70 total EPA
• M.Trubisky (Chicago Bears) · 38 dropbacks · 68.4% completion · +5.8% CPOE · +0.17 EPA/play · +6.62 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 (+0.16 vs +0.08), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Chicago Bears: 11 drives, +7.59 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 12 drives, +13.67 total EPA, 5 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Stafford (DET) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• M. Trubisky (CHI) 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. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q1 57:42 · DET 27 · Score 0-3
   (12:42) 2-C.Santos 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
2. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q1 51:21 · DET 13 · Score 0-9
   (6:21) 32-D.Montgomery left tackle for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 45:19 · CHI 3 · Score 6-9
   (:19) (Shotgun) 28-A.Peterson left tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 40:14 · DET 5 · Score 6-15
   (10:14) 84-C.Patterson right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 40:10 · DET 15 · Score 6-16
   2-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
6. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 32:33 · CHI 49 · Score 12-16
   (2:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 87-Q.Cephus for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 32:22 · CHI 15 · Score 13-16
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.
8. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 30:40 · DET 4 · Score 13-22
   (:40) (Shotgun) 32-D.Montgomery left guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 30:36 · DET 15 · Score 13-23
   2-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
10. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 19:02 · CHI 9 · Score 19-23
    (4:02) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 83-J.James for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 18:55 · CHI 15 · Score 20-23
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.
12. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 11:29 · DET 11 · Score 20-29
    (11:29) 10-M.Trubisky pass short left to 85-C.Kmet for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 11:23 · DET 15 · Score 20-30
    2-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
14. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 2:24 · CHI 25 · Score 26-30
    (2:24) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 11-M.Jones for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 2:18 · CHI 15 · Score 27-30
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.
16. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 1:42 · CHI 5 · Score 33-30
    (1:42) 28-A.Peterson left guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
17. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 1:37 · CHI 15 · Score 34-30
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-3-J.Fox.