Lions extend win streak to 10 games, hold off Bears for 23-20 victory

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions have been dominant for much of the season, leading the league in point differential after routinely routing opponents.

Against Chicago, the Lions were good enough to extend their winning streak to 10 games.

Barely.

Jared Goff threw two touchdown passes to Sam LaPorta, Jake Bates made three field goals in the first half and Detroit held off the Bears 23-20 on Thursday.

“It was a crazy ending, right?” Goff asked.

Indeed.

The Bears had the ball in Lions territory late in the game with a chance to drive for a game-tying field goal or go-ahead touchdown, but they blew the opportunity.

Caleb Williams threw an incomplete pass as time expired from the Detroit 41 after being sacked with about 30 seconds left, allowing time to run off the clock even though Chicago had one more timeout.

“I’m focused on getting everyone back and getting everyone lined up," Williams said. "I don’t have a microphone, so there is no communication with coach there. We could have taken a timeout, but if we hit that play, no one would be worried about it.”

The NFC-leading Lions (11-1) have their best record after 12 games in team history and their 10-game winning streak ties a franchise record with the 1934 squad.

The Bears (4-8) have lost six straight, including four by a total of 10 points.

Chicago coach Matt Eberflus dropped to 5-17 in games decided by seven or fewer points, winning 22.7% of those games to rank 221st and last among coaches with at least 20 games that close.

“We're right there,” he said.

Detroit led 16-0 at halftime and 23-7 after three quarters and Williams led a comeback that came up short for the second straight week. Williams helped the Bears rally from an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation against Minnesota before losing in overtime.

Detroit opened the game with four straight scoring drives, going ahead 16-0 on Goff's 3-yard touchdown pass to LaPorta in the second quarter and Bates' field goals.

Chicago, meanwhile, failed to pick up a first down on its first four drives and gained a total of 32 yards on those possessions.

“We started off pretty hot offensively and defensively,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said.

Goff's second touchdown pass to LaPorta, a 1-yard toss, gave Detroit a 23-7 lead late in the third quarter. The score was set up by Jameson Williams' 15-yard reverse, which included him hurdling Kevin Byard to gain several extra yards.

Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick overall in the draft, was 20 of 39 for 256 yards with two touchdown passes to Keenan Allen and one to DJ Moore.

Williams seemed to make his first rookie mistake of the game in the third quarter on a run, pulling up instead of going out of bounds and took a low hit from linebacker Jack Campbell.

“Knee is fine, but that play was kind of funky," Williams said. “I didn’t appreciate him diving right at my knee, but it is good.”

The former USC star shook it off and on the next snap, threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Allen. William connected with Allen for another score, throwing a 9-yarder to him with 5:36 remaining.

Detroit had a chance to add to its cushion, but Bates missed a 45-yard kick after starting his NFL career 19 of 19 on field goals on a drive that was stunted by Jameson Williams' 15-yard penalty for tossing the football at a Bears player on the sideline.

Jameson Williams, unsolicited, apologized to the team after the game.

“I'm proud of him, the way he handled it,” Goff said.

The Lions snapped a seven-game losing streak on Thanksgiving.

“We’re going to enjoy this,” Campbell said.

Bears: RB Roschon Johnson left the game with a concussion. ... Bears G Ryan Bates (concussion) and DB Elijah Hicks (ankle) were inactive.

Lions: LB Malcolm Rodriguez (knee) left the game and Campbell said he fears the injury may be serious. ... DE Josh Paschal (knee), DL Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) and DL Mekhi Wingo (knee) where hurt during the game, potentially more blows to a position hit hard by injuries, including Aidan Hutchinson's broken leg.

Bears: Play at San Francisco on Dec. 8.

Lions: Host Green Bay next Thursday night.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) from left, quarterback Jared Goff (16), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad (69), and running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) celebrate with turkey after beating the Chicago Bears 23-20 in an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell reacts against the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) talks with head coach Matt Eberflus during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58) sheds the tackle of Chicago Bears linebacker Jack Sanborn (57) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

CORRECTS BYLINE Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus watches against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks for running room as Chicago Bears defensive end DeMarcus Walker (95) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Lions place-kicker Jake Bates (39) kicks a 36-yard field goal against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) wears a John Madden patch on his jersey for an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

CORRECTS BYLINE Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) runs after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

CORRECTS BYLINE Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) runs for yardage after a catch against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) escapes the tackle of Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan lawmakers on Thursday approved a bill that codifies economic sanctions, like those imposed by the United States, as crimes against humanity and allows the prosecution of anyone who expresses support for the measures.

The bill, approved by the unicameral National Assembly, implicitly targets leading opposition leaders, many of whom have supported economic sanctions as a means to pressure the government into negotiations. The measure bans supporters of economic sanctions from running for office and allows authorities to prosecute them in absentia and seize their property.

“The unilateral coercive measures and other restrictive or punitive measures adopted against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela constitute a crime against humanity, within the framework of a systematic and widespread attack against the civilian population,” the bill, as read during Thursday's session, states.

A conviction under the bill would carry a sentence of at least 25 years in prison.

The approval comes one day after the White House announced it had imposed sanctions on 21 individuals it accused of undermining Venezuela’s July presidential election. It also followed the decision by the U.S. House of Representatives last week to pass a bill that would block the federal government from contracting any company doing business with the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The measure is the latest effort by Venezuela's ruling party to silence dissent after the July election, which Maduro and former diplomat Edmundo González both claim to have won.

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared Maduro the winner hours after polls closed on July 28. But unlike previous presidential elections, electoral authorities did not provide detailed vote counts.

Meanwhile, the main opposition coalition collected tally sheets from 80% of the nation’s electronic voting machines, posted them online and said the voting records showed González won the election with twice as many votes as Maduro.

Anti-government protests erupted nationwide the day after the election, drawing repression from state security forces, which arrested more than 2,200 people, including political leaders, lawyers, poll workers, election volunteers and protesters, both minors and adults.

González left Venezuela in September for exile in Spain after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with an investigation into the publishing of the vote tally sheets, while opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been hiding for months at an undisclosed location.

Machado last year won the presidential primary organized by the main opposition coalition. But Maduro's government kept her off the July 28 ballot via an administrative decision that concluded she could not run for office because she allegedly sought the broad economic sanctions the U.S. imposed last decade in an effort to topple Maduro. The sanctions crippled Venezuela's crucial oil sector.

Machado’s hand-picked substitute was also barred from representing the Unitary Platform opposition coalition. That prompted the faction’s leadership to choose González as candidate.

Last week, Venezuela’s Attorney General’s Office announced a new investigation against Machado. Her comments in favor of the U.S. House bill, according to a statement from the prosecutor's office, “constitute the commission of crimes of treason against the country,” conspiracy with foreign countries and association.

Machado rejected the accusations in a video she posted Thursday on social media.

“Let them accuse us of treason against the country the day we stand by with our arms crossed, when we believe that there is nothing more to fight for,” she said in a video showing images from this year's presidential campaign. “In that moment, accuse us of betraying the country... resigning ourselves would be a betrayal.”

Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City.

Lawmakers vote for a bill that codifies economic sanctions as a crime against humanity and allows the prosecution of anyone who expresses support for the measures, in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, center, holds a document of a bill approved by lawmakers that codifies economic sanctions as a crime against humanity and allows the prosecution of anyone who expresses support for the measures, in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)