In Case You Missed It: Barry Sanders' Monday Night Football Intro Video

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VIDEO: Jim Schwartz's Monday Night Football Fist Pump

Lions Vs. Bears Final Score: Detroit Beats Chicago, 24-13, To Improve To 5-0

The Detroit Lions went 10 years in between appearances on Monday Night Football, but something tells me it won't take that long for them to return again. Before Monday, their last appearance was a 35-0 loss at home to the St. Louis Rams. This time around, they beat the Chicago Bears by a score of 24-13 to improve to 5-0 for the first time since 1956.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Lions opened up the second quarter with a 73-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson. The big score put the Lions on top by a touchdown, but the Bears responded with a 44-yard field goal and a nine-yard touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to Kellen Davis to take the lead going into halftime.

Only trailing by three points at halftime this week, it didn't take long for the Lions to come back and take control of this game. On their first offensive possession of the second half, Brandon Pettigrew scored on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Stafford, and on the next drive, Jahvid Best scored on an 88-yard touchdown run. It was the second-longest run in Lions history and the only play of the drive.

In the fourth quarter, the Bears cut the lead down to one possession with a field goal, but Jason Hanson added one of his own with two minutes left to give the Lions a 24-13 lead. That ended up being the final score after the Bears' final drive ended just short of the end zone.

Next Sunday, the 5-0 Lions are back at home to play host to the 4-1 San Francisco 49ers.

Monday Night Game Sets Lions Ford Field Attendance Record

The Detroit Lions sold out their Monday night game against the Chicago Bears back in August within an hour of tickets going on sale. Last week, they put 2,000 standing room only tickets on sale, and all of them sold out in about 15 minutes.

With the demand so high for tickets to this game, the thinking was the Lions could break the Ford Field attendance record for a football game, which was set at Super Bowl XL when 68,206 were in attendance. As it turns out, the Lions came close to breaking the record, but they'll have to settle for breaking the record for a Lions game at Ford Field.

The 67,861 in attendance got their money's worth, as the Lions beat the Bears by a score of 24-13.

VIDEO: Jahvid Best's 88-Yard Touchdown Run

VIDEO: Brandon Pettigrew's 18-Yard Touchdown Catch

Lions Vs. Bears Score: Jahvid Best's 88-Yard Touchdown Run Extends Detroit's Lead

The biggest weakness for the Detroit Lions this season has been their running game. Not much appeared to have changed with it on Monday night against the Chicago Bears, but in the third quarter Jahvid Best broke off the second-longest run in Lions history, going 88 yards for a touchdown to put the Lions on top by a score of 21-10.

Best's run came on the one and only play of the Lions' first drive after the Brandon Pettigrew touchdown catch. The Bears punted the ball away, and Best went right down the middle of the field untouched for the score.

Thanks mainly to the 88-yard run, Best now has his first career 100-yard rushing game. Despite only carrying the ball six times, he has 112 yards. Obviously that indicates the Lions still have a problem running the ball outside of the 88-yard score, but hey, if you can get a big run mixed in with a great passing game, the Lions will certainly take it.

Lions Vs. Bears Score: Brandon Pettigrew Touchdown Gives Detroit 14-10 Lead

The Detroit Lions have played much better in the second half this season than the first half, and that once again seems to be the case on Monday night against the Chicago Bears.

After going into halftime down 10-7, the Lions came out and forced a three and out and quickly scored a touchdown to take back the lead. Matthew Stafford worked out of the shotgun throughout the drive and completed a big 17-yard pass to Calvin Johnson on third down. The Lions picked up another third-down conversion later in the drive on a 12-yard pass to Tony Scheffler. On the very next play, the Lions scored on an 18-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Pettigrew, who was wide open.

The Lions now are on top by a score of 14-10. Johnson scored on a 73-yard touchdown in the second quarter for their first score, and Pettigrew's TD gave the Lions their second touchdown of the game.

Lions Vs. Bears Score: Chicago Leads Detroit At Halftime, 10-7

For the third week in a row, the Detroit Lions are trailing at halftime. Unlike the last two weeks, the Lions are only down by a field goal rather 17 or more points. The score at halftime of Detroit's Monday night showdown with the Bears is 10-7 in favor of Chicago, and all of the scoring happened in the second quarter.

Following 15 minutes of flags, flags and more flags, the Lions and Bears seemed to ditch their primetime nerves and got things going in the second quarter. Matthew Stafford found Calvin Johnson for a 73-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the second quarter, and after Johnson stiff-armed a defender and ran into the end zone, Detroit led by a touchdown.

The Lions seemed to have all of the momentum in this game, but the Bears responded with a solid 10-play drive that produced a field goal. Unlike the previous time the Bears faced fourth-and-one, they settled for the field goal rather than attempting to go for it again (they were stuffed on fourth-and-one earlier in the game).

The Lions had to punt on their next drive, and the Bears went down the field and scored on a nine-yard pass from Jay Cutler to Kellen Davis. An interception by Stafford kept the Lions from trying things up before halftime, so Chicago leads by a score of 10-7.

VIDEO: Calvin Johnson Scores 73-Yard Touchdown

Lions Vs. Bears Score: 73-Yard Calvin Johnson Touchdown Puts Detroit On Top, 7-0

The first quarter of the Monday Night Football showdown between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears was quite ugly, to say the least. It seemed like there was a flag every play, and neither team was able to score in the first 15 minutes.

The second quarter of the game started off with a bang. Matthew Stafford threw a bomb downfield to Calvin Johnson on third-and-eight on the second play of the quarter. Johnson caught the perfect pass in stride, stiff-armed a Bears defender and glided into the end zone for a 73-yard touchdown.

Defensively, the Lions have been playing quite well. The only Bears drive of note was extended because of penalties, and there were some questionable calls along the way. The 11-play, 72-yard drive didn't result in points even with all of the penalties. On fourth-and-one from the Detroit 26, the Bears went for it and were stuffed thanks to great penetration by Ndamukong Suh. The stop swung momentum back to the Lions, which quickly capitalized with the touchdown pass to Johnson.

In the second quarter, the Lions lead by a score of 7-0 thanks to the Johnson touchdown.

PHOTO: Jon Gruden Sips Some 'Megatron Juice'

Lions Vs. Bears: Nick Fairley Active For Monday Night Football

Detroit Lions rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley is going to make his debut on the big stage of ESPN's Monday Night Football. After being out since the start of August with a broken foot, Fairley fully practiced all last week and is set to make his debut on Monday night for the Lions. He is active for the game, and all indications are he will play.

The following players are not active for Monday's game between the Lions and Chicago Bears:

With Durant and Spievey out, Bobby Carpenter will step in as a starter at linebacker and John Wendling will start at safety. Durant was expected to play over the weekend, but a setback with his recovery from a concussion is going to keep him out of the lineup for at least one more game.

Barry Sanders Will Do Monday Night Football Intro This Week

Week 5 NFL Injury Report: Nick Fairley Questionable For Monday Night

The injury report for Monday night's game between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears is out and it has good news for the home team. Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley fully practiced on Saturday and is listed as questionable for the game. He has practiced all week, and although no decision has been made yet, it certainly looks like he will make his debut on Monday night.

Here's a look at the full injury report:

Detroit Lions

WR Rashied Davis (Foot) - Out

WR Calvin Johnson (Ankle) - Probable

WR Maurice Stovall (Hand) - Probable

OT Jason Fox (Foot) - Out

DE Lawrence Jackson (Hamstring) - Questionable

DT Nick Fairley (Foot) - Questionable

LB DeAndre Levy (Knee) - Probable

LB Justin Durant (Concussion) - Probable

CB Aaron Berry (Groin) - Questionable

CB Eric Wright (Groin) - Probable

S Louis Delmas (Abdomen) - Probable

S Erik Coleman (Ankle) - Out

S Amari Spievey (Hamstring) - Questionable

Chicago Bears

WR Earl Bennett (Chest) - Out

TE Matt Spaeth (Calf) - Probable

OT Gabe Carimi (Knee) - Out

OG/C Chris Spencer (Hand) - Probable

DE Corey Wootton (Hand) - Probable

CB Charles Tillman (Hip) - Probable

S Chris Harris (Hamstring) - Probable

Nick Fairley Injury Update: Debut Coming On Monday Night Football?

So far this week, Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley has practiced on a limited basis three days in a row. On Friday, he participated in team drills for the first time since suffering his foot injury, indicating that his debut as a Lion is nearing.

Earlier this week, ESPN Chicago reported that Fairley will in fact debut on Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears. According to the report, Fairley was telling his friends and family who are attending the game to look for him to play in certain situations.

Fairley denied the report and denied that his friends and family had been invited to the game. On Friday, Fairley said he wasn't aware if he will play or not, as no decision had been made. If he is told he will play, friends and family could be invited to the game, but no plans have been made, contrary to the report from ESPN Chicago.

Although the Lions haven't made a decision yet, it would not be surprising if Fairley makes his debut on Monday night. He has participated in practice throughout the week, and it seems like he could in fact get into the game in certain situations. Obviously the Lions could decide to wait another week to make sure he's ready, but going up against the Bears' offensive line would be a pretty good way for him to make his debut.

Lions Vs. Bears: Initial Injury Report Released For The Monday Night Football Showdown

Because the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears don't play until Monday night, the first injury report of the week didn't come out until Thursday. The Lions actually practiced on Wednesday, but no injury report was made public.

Thursday's injury report has 13 players on it for the Lions. Five of those players missed practice, whereas four were limited and four fully practiced. Here's the full breakdown:

Did Not Practice

WR Rashied Davis (Foot), OT Jason Fox (Foot), LB Justin Durant (Concussion), S Amari Spievey (Hamstring), S Erik Coleman (Ankle)

Limited In Practice

DE Lawrence Jackson (Hamstring), DT Nick Fairley (Foot), CB Aaron Berry (Groin), S Louis Delmas (Abdomen)

Fully Practiced

WR Calvin Johnson (Ankle), WR Maurice Stovall (Hand), LB DeAndre Levy (Knee), CB Eric Wright (Groin)

Only six players are listed on Thursday's injury report for the Bears:

Did Not Practice

WR Earl Bennett (Chest), OT Gabe Carimi (Knee)

Limited In Practice

TE Matt Spaeth (Calf), OG/C Chris Spencer (Hand), CB Charles Tillman (Hip), S Chris Harris (Hamstring)

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For more on the Lions, check out Pride of Detroit.