Lions Still Can Think Of Playoffs Detroit Drops Slumping Bears 27-7 As Club Rallies To Save Fontes’ Job

They have the best offense in the NFL and are playing with great confidence. And with a soft schedule ahead, the Detroit Lions can almost start thinking about the playoffs.

On Monday night, the Lions took care of immediate business. With Scott Mitchell throwing three touchdown passes and Herman Moore making big catches, the Lions defeated the Chicago Bears 27-7 for their fourth straight victory.

“Our attitude is every time we have the ball, we want to score,” Mitchell said. “We realize that’s not possible. But we try.

“We feel we can attack people a lot of different ways with a lot of different people. We’re starting to get a feel for the things we have.”

Lions coach Wayne Fontes was given a win-or-else ultimatum by club owner William Clay Ford four games ago. Now Detroit is 7-6 and still alive, with the schedule in its favor.

The Lions play at Houston on Sunday, then are home against expansion Jacksonville in the Silverdome before finishing at Tampa Bay.

“You never can count us out,” Fontes said. “It’s tough to have to do it this way every year. But players play, and that’s what’s happening now. Our players are playing well.”

Detroit is 24-13 under Fontes in games played on or after Thanksgiving. Fontes is 19-6 in the final four games of the season.

Lions 27, Bears 7

Chicago 0 0 7 0 - 7

Detroit 14 7 3 3 - 27

Det-Moore 46 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick), 8:41.

Det-Morton 4 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick), 14:08.

Det-Sanders 9 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick), 13:29.

Det-FG Hanson 42, 2:49.

Chi-Green 11 run (Butler kick), 8:54.

Det-FG Hanson 36, :23.

Chi Det First downs 13 27 Rushes-yards 18-77 25-109 Passing 108 310 Punt Returns 2-51 2-8 Kickoff Returns 5-157 2-41 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 21-33-0 26-39-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 4-32 1-10 Punts 5-38 3-49 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards 6-59 7-49 Time of Possession 28:05 31:55

Individual statistics

RUSHINGChi, Green 8-63, Kramer 3-11, Salaam 7-3. Det, Sanders 23-90, Morton 1-18, Mitchell 1-1. PASSINGChi, Kramer 21-33-0-140. Det, Mitchell 26-38-0-320, Sanders 0-1-0-0. RECEIVINGChi, Wetnight 5-24, Graham 4-45, T.Carter 4-27, Jennings 2-13, Conway 2-12, Green 2-8, Salaam 1-6, Timpson 1-5. Det, Moore 14-183, Sanders 6-93, Perriman 4-34, Sloan 1-6, Morton 1-4. MISSED FIELD GOALSChi, Butler 53.