The Chicago Bears used journeyman Chase Daniel to beat the Detroit Lions on Thursday, while the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints had familiar faces leading their respective teams to wins.
Chicago travelled to Detroit for the first of three games and outlasted the hosting Lions 23-16 behind two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Daniel threw a career-high two scores while replacing an injured Mitchell Trubisky. He finished 27-of-37 passing for 230 yards, also setting career highs in both categories.
The mistake-free game helped the Bears to their fifth consecutive win to remain in control of the NFC North, but cost Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. He connected on 28 of his 38 passes for 236 yards, but had two interceptions late in the fourth to cost Detroit the game.
The Cowboys were also able to take advantage of turnovers in their 31-23 win over quarterback Colt McCoy and the Washington Redskins. McCoy got his first start since 2014 and played well in the first half. But, a few turnovers and a streaking Dallas offense led by play caller Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper overcame the veteran backup-turned-starter.
Another veteran led his team to a victory. Drew Brees threw four touchdowns in the Saints' 31-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons to cap off the action and push their win streak to 10 straight games. Brees got some help on the defensive end as New Orleans forced four turnovers. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was able to recover one fumble but lost another and threw an interception. Two other ball carriers also fumbled and the Saints were there to scoop them up.
Lewis. Carr. Arnold. And now Kirkwood!@DrewBrees' fourth TD pass of the night!
— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2018
: #ATLvsNO on NBC pic.twitter.com/xqjwZhQK7M
Injury report
Bears running back Benny Cunningham left the game in the first half with an ankle injury. Team-mate and cornerback Prince Amukamara was evaluated on the sideline by Chicago's medical staff in the second half and later returned to the game.
Detroit center Graham Glasgow left the game briefly with an undisclosed injury in the fourth quarter.
Adrian Peterson was listed as questionable when he was sent to the Redskins' locker room with a shoulder injury sustained at the end of the first quarter. However, he quickly returned and was back in the game for Washington's first series of the second quarter.
Washington left tackle Trent Williams briefly left the game in the second half and was later transported to a local hospital after the contest. He walked onto the ambulance under his own power, and per reports told a team-mate he was OK. The Redskins announced the trip to the hospital was for "precautionary reasons" after reportedly being hit in the chest during the game.
By the numbers
The Bears' defense is impressive, to say the least. They have picked off opposing quarterbacks 20 times, the most out of any team in the NFL, while allowing only 19 touchdown passes. One of the latest snags was Eddie Jackson’s 41-yard pick-six.
PICK SIX!@EJackson_4. To the house.
— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2018
Sweeter than Nanna's pumpkin pie. #DaBears
: #CHIvsDET on CBS pic.twitter.com/dybMYpcDjn
Dallas have been desperate for big plays. The longest reception Prescott completed before entering Thursday's contest was a 64-yarder. Now, just add nearly 30 yards to that for not only the longest completion of the season but of Prescott's career – the 90-yard pass for a touchdown was also the longest reception of Cooper's career.
AMARI COOPER GOES BACK FOR SECONDS.
— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2018
90-YARD #DALLASCOWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
: #WASvsDAL on FOX pic.twitter.com/qyEuItXvT2
The last of the three games featured an NFL first: The most matchups between any two quarterbacks since the merger in 1970 when the Falcons' Ryan and Saints' Brees met for the 21st time.
Quotables
Bears quarterback Daniel impressed in his third career start and his first in nearly four years, and earned high praise from opposing coach Matt Patricia: "He knows that offense really well. He's a little bit of a different player obviously, but he's still athletic. He can still scramble. He's got a good arm. He's accurate."
The duo of Prescott and Cooper was impressive on Thursday, and the third-year quarterback was quick to praise the two-time Pro Bowl player after the game: "You saw it, as I said when you have a great receiver like this – he makes the transition easier. You get the ball out and you get it in his hands, he makes plays."
Week 12 NFL scores
Thursday's games
Chicago Bears 23, Detroit Lions 16
Dallas Cowboys 31, Washington Redskins 23
New Orleans Saints 31, Atlanta Falcons 17