Hester's 317 yards not enough
The Detroit Lions gave Devin Hester ample opportunities to do something Sunday. Almost every time, he did.
A 97-yard kickoff return reestablished a Chicago Bears lead at 20-17 with 12:57 to play. This was on a day he also had returned punts 29, 13, 19 and 31 yards and kickoffs 25, 22 and 29 yards.
"Whenever you give good field position to put the offense in, it's a good thing," he said. "That's what I harp on, trying to get the offense better field position so it will make things easier for them."
Despite his heroics, Detroit pinned a 37-27 loss on Chicago. Hester amassed 317 yards himself, with only three of those yards coming on his first reception of the season. He had 219 yards on seven kickoffs (31.1 avg.) and 95 on five punts (19.0).
I didn't really feel in a zone," said Hester, who had two fumbles roll out of bounds on returns. "I just felt it was a big game, and I needed to stay focused and be mentally prepared. It's a challenge to step up and make plays."
The game got away in the fourth quarter, with his second return touchdown of the season not able to provide the momentum he was hoping it would.
"Most definitely we should have won," he said. "We've just been in a dog fight, and we were looking forward to this game to be our breakout game to get us back on track, and get us prepared and focused in all three phases of the game."
Wet behind ears
As Bears general manager, Jerry Angelo can't wait to see how his young draft picks fare.
He would like to wait longer than three weeks of the season, though.
Injuries required Chicago head coach Lovie Smith to elevate a number of rookies on the depth chart.
Against Detroit on Sunday, Trumaine McBride had to start at corner, and Corey Graham and Kevin Payne saw their first defensive snaps in the secondary as well.
Normal reserves Ricky Manning Jr. and Brandon McGowan also started at corner and safety, respectively. Manning started seven games last season; McGowan started the final three games of 2005 at safety.
Then Payne got hurt early, and Danieal Manning had to shift back to safety.
That left the Bears with no nickel back, so defensive coordinator Bob Babich left second-year linebacker Jamar Williams on the field on passing downs.
As for having to use youth so soon, Angelo said, "I wish we were outdoors and it was November and we had overcast skies and not what we have today.
But they're ready, and we're excited."
He called the injuries "frustrating. It is a little unique that we'd lose so many starters.
The first game we lost two (Mike Brown and Dusty Dvoracek) for the season, but at least the rest of the guys will be back. It's disappointing, frustrating. It's the one thing you can't really prepare for.
But everybody has to deal with it."
Game plan surprise
With a patched-up Chicago secondary, the Lions came out running. And running. On four of their first five first-down calls, they ran.
"I was a little surprised," Bears corner/safety Danieal Manning said. "I sure thought they were going to come at us."
Manning said the communication "stayed positive" throughout the game. "We kept talking to each other, motivating each other. I thought we did pretty good."
Rex's career 'not over'
That's what Jerry Angelo said before Sunday's game.
Having to change quarterbacks was "disappointing, because Rex has put in a lot of time - not only this offseason, but also going through the injuries he had," he said.
"It's unfortunate, but it doesn't mean his career is over or anything like that. We needed to make a change, given that we have to put the best people out there each and every Sunday that we feel gives us the best opportunity.
We're certainly not blaming Rex for the demise of the offense this far."
Angelo said he has not spoken to Grossman since the demotion, but that he has had several conversations with his agent. Even though Grossman is on the final year of his contract, Angelo said "it's way too early in the season to make determinations on anyone's future. We have a lot of football to play.
When we have to address that at the right time, we will.
"Rex is a professional. He understands. He'll take the high road and wait
and see."
Harris not a no-show
Defensive tackle Tommie Harris didn't start Sunday, but played enough to get a sack.
I'm a little sore, but I'll be fine," he said.
Archuleta a spectator
Safety Adam Archuleta said if it was up to him, he would have played Sunday.
"They decided it was not in my best interest to play," he said of coaches and doctors discussing his broken right hand.
"I figured it'd be very unlikely I'd miss the game. I don't see it happening next week. Honestly, I really felt I was going to play this week. I don't see how I can miss another game."
Long fourth quarter
"It was pretty long," Lions quarterback Jon Kitna said. "I've got food waiting at my house. I hope it's not going to be ruined.
"No, but that's the NFL. It's crazy."
Goods on Griese
Brian Griese improved.
His passer rating of 68.3 Sunday was better than the 66.4 he had the last time he faced Detroit. That came Oct. 2, 2005 while with Tampa Bay. He was 22-of-39 for 302 yards, two TDs and three picks - but Tampa won 17-13.
Takeaway tale
The Lions were tied for first going into the weekend with 10 takeaways, and they added three more Sunday. They now are 3-0 this season when collecting an interception or being plus or even in the takeaway battle.
The Bears came in minus-6 and dead last in the NFL and finished with a 3-2 deficit in turnovers against Detroit.
Day to forget
Rex Grossman won't be able to forget the date Sept. 26, even though he'd like to. It was on that date in 2004 that he was lost for the season with a knee injury, and the date this year that Brian Griese replaced him as Chicago's starting quarterback.
Notes numbers
Lance Briggs had his team-best starting streak snapped at 64 games as he was inactive (hamstring). ... The Lions lead the Bears 4-2 at Ford Field after ending Chicago's four-game win streak in the series. ... The Lions began a season 3-1 for the first time since 2004 and 2-0 in division play for the first time since 1999. ... The Lions are 39-36-1 at home to Chicago, which leads the overall series 87-63-5. ... Since 1990, Detroit is 13-5 at home against the Bears. ... Lions tackle Jeff Backus, who started his 100th consecutive game, is the only player from the 2001 draft to start every game. ... The Lions honored members of their 1957 NFL championship team at halftime.
Inactives
Kyle Orton was Chicago's third QB, with S Adam Archuleta, LB Lance Briggs, CBs Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher, FB Lousaka Polite, WR Mike Hass and OL Josh Beekman out.
That meant rookie CB Corey Graham was activated, along with LB Darrell McClover and DL Antonio Garay from the previous week.
Out for Detroit were QB Dan Orlovsky, WR Calvin Johnson, RB T.J. Duckett, Gs Damien Woody and Manny Ramirez, DE Kalimba Edwards and LBs Alex Lewis and Anthony Cannon.
Reed Schreck is the NFL writer for the Rockford Register Star. Contact him at 815-987-1381 or rschreck@rrstar.com