Let you know a secret.

If you would like attend video games and discuss to coaches and gamers, turn into a sportswriter. However if you wish to truly watch the top of video games, stay a fan.

That’s why I let you know now that the Detroit Lions’ 27-23 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday … felt like a win.

It did. It felt, smelled and tasted like a win.

I’m not sugarcoating the stinging loss. I’m not awarding the Lions an ethical victory. What I’m saying is that for many of Sunday, the Lions managed that sport and appeared to have a victory simply in hand.

Till they didn’t.

Detroit Lions defensive finish Romeo Okwara walks off the sector after the 27-23 loss to the Chicago Bears at Ford Discipline, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.

And most of that occurred late within the fourth quarter, when sportswriters like me are busy banging out our tales that get printed on-line as quickly as the sport is over.

The Lions had a 23-6 lead after the third quarter. Matthew Stafford was taking part in nicely and threw a landing move. Adrian Peterson was spectacular and the operating sport was clicking. T.J. Hockenson was making large catches. And the protection had barbed wire across the finish zone.

After the Lions went up, 20-6, on their first drive of the third quarter, I overtly questioned on Twitter if the Bears would possibly bench Mitchell Trubisky. On the half, Trubisky had solely accomplished 40% of his passes and the Bears’ offense was going nowhere.

So I began typing within the fourth quarter. And the Bears began making their comeback. Right here’s my temporary rundown of what the sport felt wish to me in within the fourth quarter as I peered over my laptop computer sometimes.

Trubisky throws a 2-yard landing move to tight finish Jimmy Graham to chop the Lions’ result in 23-13 with 13:39 left. That’s so cute. They let Graham out of the previous of us’ residence to catch a ball. Good for these gutty little Bears. Did Trubisky or Nick Foles throw that?

The Lions punt. Trubisky throws incomplete, then Trey Flowers sacks him and the Lions practically get better deep in Chicago territory. The Bears must punt from their very own 29 with 8:37 left. I’m wondering what’s for dinner after I get residence. Oh, nicely. Faucet-tap-tappity-tap-tap.

Matt Prater misses a 55-yarder and the Bears take over from their 45 with 4:02 left. Hmmm. Nah, it’ll by no means occur. Trubisky can’t rating 10 factors in Four minutes. And I like that Matt Patricia wasn’t conservative and wished to attain, then pin them deep with a kickoff. Oh, nicely. Higher file this story quickly.

Trubisky completes 5 straight passes and the Bears rating in 1:04 to chop the result in 23-20 with 2:58 left. Wait, is that this occurring? This will’t occur, proper? The Bears will strive an onside kick and this shall be over. And even when they don’t, Adrian Peterson has been operating nice. They’ll get a few first downs after which everybody’s headed to postgame happyland.

At this level, I’ve stopped typing. Stafford throws an interception on third-and-5 and the Bears rating the successful landing on a Trubisky move two performs.

Story continues

Lions outdoors linebacker Christian Jones rushes Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky through the first half at Ford Discipline on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.

Free Press columnist Shawn Windsor and I change seems to be within the press field. We each have that “I need to punch my laptop computer proper now in order that I don’t have to start out over writing.”

There’s 1:54 left, however the Lions’ offense has gone chilly. The Lions truly do all the things proper. Stafford throws the successful landing move to D’Andre Swift. What a comeback! And the rookie is the hero! However Swift drops it with 6 seconds left. The groans from the Lions’ sideline, the coaches within the press field and the stadium staff echo by way of Ford Discipline. The subsequent move is incomplete. Sport over.

In the event you’re a Lions fan, this needed to really feel like a intestine punch. Possibly even just a little decrease.

For us sportswriters? We’re imagined to be goal and dispassionate. And we’re. However even this will get previous for us as a result of once you cowl a staff that has been doing the proper issues and has been successful a lot of the sport solely to seek out itself explaining one other perplexing loss, it’s exhausting attempting to make sense of it.

Contact Carlos Monarrez at cmonarrez@freepress.com and observe him on Twitter @cmonarrez. The Free Press has began a brand new digital subscription mannequin. This is how one can acquire entry to our most unique Lions content material.

This text initially appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions’ newest meltdown made me need to punch my laptop computer