When the Bears kicked a field goal to go up 26-14 with 4:15 left in the fourth quarter of their Week 11 meeting with the Lions, the last thing that most bettors were focused on was whether Chicago would cover.
For most of the week, the Bears had been underdogs of 7.5 to 10 points. So, with less than five minutes left in regulation, it didn't seem likely that the Lions — down 12 — would be able to cover that type of spread.
But somehow, they came within a foot of doing so. Literally.
The Lions mounted a furious comeback to end the game, putting together back-to-back touchdown drives to take a 29-26 lead with 29 seconds left in regulation. The Bears' cover was still intact at that time, and with Chicago preparing to effort a game-tying, or game-winning, drive in those final seconds it was presumed it would stay that way.
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However, Justin Fields was pressured on the first play after Jack Fox's kickoff went out of the end zone for a touchback. He was sacked, the ball was jarred loose and it started rolling toward Chicago's goal-line.
Aidan Hutchinson was in pursuit of the ball, and had he picked it up, he would have likely logged a game-sealing touchdown. That would have also flipped those who had bet the Bears against the spread from winners to losers.
Instead, Bears right tackle Darnell Wright beat Hutchinson to the spot. He overran the ball a bit but instinctively reached for it with his back foot. That sent the ball careening out of the back of the end zone for a safety that effectively ended the game.
AIDAN. HUTCHINSON.
— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2023
📺: #CHIvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jckqnJwdb2 pic.twitter.com/tuWDh0Mjcg
That made the final score Lions 31, Bears 26. So, while Chicago didn't win, the Bears were able to cover.
The cardiac sequence had bettors on both sides of the coin sweating plays out. Those who ended up on the winning side of it thanked Wright quite a bit on social media for saving them from a bad beat.
Darnell Wright with a spread saving kick. Hero
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) November 19, 2023
Darnell Wright preserving the #Bears cover… pic.twitter.com/JfyWJyw1Ow
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) November 19, 2023
MEANINGFUL FOR SOME 😱
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) November 19, 2023
The Lions closed as an 8-point favorite, but instead of a late-game fumble recovered for a TD and the cover, the Bears OT Darnell Wright kicked the ball out of the end zone for a safety ❌
pic.twitter.com/8rv3w884fR
Every Bears bettor should Venmo Darnell Wright after the game.
— Eli Hershkovich (@EliHershkovich) November 19, 2023
JFC. Thought I was going to lose Bears +7.5 after covering the entire game.
— Joe Ostrowski (@JoeOstrowski) November 19, 2023
Thank you, Darnell Wright.
Darnell Wright MVP for Bears +7.5 bettors.
— Ben Heisler (@bennyheis) November 19, 2023
Wright will get credit from bettors for getting to the ball first on that final play, but he deserves attention anyway after putting forth a strong effort against the Lions. The rookie held his own despite playing against Hutchinson, who has been one of the most consistent pressure generators during the 2023 NFL season.
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So, Wright's performance was a bright spot for the Bears in their loss to the Lions.
But the biggest silver lining from the defeat? Chicago remains on pace to own two of the top four picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. That will help the team as they look to accelerate their rebuild during the offseason.
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