CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- Needing four yards to all but secure a victory for his Bears, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky made the mistake that lost his team the game Sunday.
Trubisky was stripped of the football on a third-and-4 play that began with 1:54 remaining and the Bears holding a 30-27 lead over the Lions. Detroit recovered at the Chicago 7-yard line and scored two plays later as running back Adrian Peterson pushed his way to the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown in the Lions' 34-30 win.
The Bears' play call led to questions afterward. Rather than run the ball, the Bears elected to take a chance on the pass play with Trubisky, a decision that coach Matt Nagy defended. While offensive coordinator Bill Lazor now serves as the Bears' play-caller, Nagy oversees aspects of the team's game management.
"We had to stay aggressive and get first downs to make them use timeouts and try to end with the football and win the game," Nagy said.
The Bears had multiple chances to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter as they held a 10-point lead. With 7:22 remaining, the Bears punted from the Lions' 40-yard line. They also punted on the next possession, giving the Lions the ball at their own 4-yard line with 4:33 left. Quarterback Matthew Stafford quickly drove Detroit 96 yards for a touchdown in 2 minutes, 15 seconds, making it a three-point game with 2:18 remaining.
Then came the fumble by Trubisky, entirely flipping the game in the Lions' favor. The Bears were left in disbelief.
"I don’t know if I was pump faking and clutching it or if I was going to pull the trigger," Trubisky said. "Time was just running out. (Lions pass rusher Romeo Okwara) made a good play. Credit goes to them. I just got to take care of the football.
“I was just in shock because I felt like we were going to win that one."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.