Daniel set career highs with 230 yards passing and two touchdowns to keep the Chicago Bears rolling with a 23-16 win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday.
The NFC North-leading Bears (8-3) sealed their fifth straight victory with Kyle Fuller’s interception in the end zone with a little more than a minute left.
Detroit (4-7) has lost four of five, plummeting to last place in the division.
Chicago broke a 16-16 tie on Eddie Jackson’s 41-yard pick-6 with six minutes remaining. It was Jackson’s second consecutive game with an interception returned for a touchdown. It’s also the fifth career defensive touchdown for the 2017 fourth-round pick.
The Lions drove to the Bears 11 on the ensuing drive, but couldn’t score because Matthew Stafford’s pass to Michael Roberts was picked off by Fuller. Fuller’s interception was the 20th of the season for the Bears.
The 32-year-old Daniel made his third career start and his first in nearly four years, replacing Trubisky, who was out with a shoulder injury.
He finished 27 of 37 for 230 yards and two touchdowns, setting career highs in each category. Daniel had a 10-yard touchdown pass to Taquan Mizzell in the second quarter and a 14-yard pass to Tarik Cohen in the fourth.
And unlike Stafford, he didn’t make any costly mistakes.
Stafford was 28 of 38 for 236 yards with two interceptions.
Detroit became the first team to lead Chicago in a month when LeGarrette Blount ran for his first of two touchdowns early in the second quarter. Blount had 88 yards and the two touchdowns.
The Bears, though, were able to come back and go ahead thanks to their defense.
INJURY REPORT
Bears: RB Benny Cunningham (ankle) left the game in the first half. CB Prince Amukamara was evaluated on the sideline by the team’s medical staff in the second half and returned.
Lions: Rookie RB Kerryon Johnson (knee) and WR Marvin Jones (knee) were inactive with injuries. C Graham Glasgow left the game briefly with an injury in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
Bears: Visit New York Giants (3-7) on Dec. 2.
Lions: Host Los Angeles Rams (10-1) on Dec. 2.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
___
Follow Larry Lage on Twitter at https://twitter.com/larrylage
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Redskins left tackle Trent Williams and receiver Jamison Crowder are active for this afternoon’s game in Dallas after missing multiple games with injuries. Williams missed three straight games with a dislocated right thumb, while Crowder has been sidelined six games with an ankle injury and didn’t practice all week. Cowboys defensive end Taco Charlton will miss his third straight game with a shoulder injury. Defensive tackle Daniel Ross is available after two games with a calf injury.
NEW YORK (AP) — Jets quarterback Sam Darnold has sat out team drills for a second straight day of practice, increasing the likelihood he’ll sit out against New England on Sunday. Darnold strained his right foot against Miami on Nov. 4 and didn’t play the following week against Buffalo. Josh McCown will start in Darnold’s place again if the rookie is unable to play.
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — No. 22 Mississippi State visits Mississippi in tonight’s “Egg Bowl.” The Bulldogs are trying for their eighth win of the season while Ole Miss is trying to snap a four-game losing streak and finish with a .500 record. The Rebels are ineligible for postseason play because of NCAA sanctions.
