DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions defense came into the Thanksgiving game ranked first overall in points allowed and third in total defense, but it didn't look like it early.
The Chicago Bears marched 55 yards down the field on their first possession and scored on quarterback Jay Cutler's 10-yard touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffery.
"They came out and hit us with a lot of swings early, got the ball out of Cutler's hands quick, got the ball into their playmakers' hands really quick, and they were able to get a little 50, 60-yard drive," cornerback Rashean Mathis said.
The Lions then fumbled deep in their own territory, and the Bears quickly capitalized with another Cutler-Jeffery touchdown, this one for six yards and a 14-3 lead.
But after that, the Bears only managed a third-quarter field goal.
"It's what we've been doing the last month," linebacker DeAndre Levy said. "Hopefully, we get that corrected. We've got to come out and start faster. Regardless of the end result, we have to start faster."
The defensive line had gone two games without a sack.
In the second half, they got going again.
First was Andre Fluellen, getting Cutler for an 8-yard loss early in the third.
In the fourth quarter, Jason Jones also sacked Cutler for an 8-yard loss.
Ziggy Ansah followed that up with his own 8-yard sack of Cutler.
"It was great," Jones said. "Anytime you can get to the quarterback and get him on the ground, it's great. Last two games we didn't. Today we did, and I'm happy about that."
The secondary also benefits when the defensive line is getting to the quarterback.
"It helps a lot," safety Glover Quin said. "Obviously, it's a team effort. Anytime you can get picks, get sacks, make big plays, it helps. And when the D-line is getting sacks, obviously, it's putting pressure on the quarterback.
"He's trying to get rid of the ball. Sometimes he makes a few errant throws, and that helps us out on the back end."
Quin got one of those errant throws in the fourth quarter.
"I was actually on the other side of the field, and I saw him getting ready to throw it," Quin said. "I just tried to get over there and help out any kind of way. "Darius Slay was able to tip the ball a little bit, and I was able to see it quick enough before it went out of bounds."
The interception was the fourth of the season for Quin, a new career best.
"It was probably my hardest ones this year," Quin said. "A lot of times you think tipped balls are guinea pigs, but that one was a little tougher, being a tipped ball. It ranks up there pretty high."
The Lions were just pleased that the team responded after two straight losses.
"We came out and fought," safety James Ihedigbo said. "There were some plays there in the beginning that we didn't like to give up, but once again we played our style of football, our DNA.
"That's what we talked about, is letting our DNA shine on that field and we did that."
RAIOLA'S MILESTONE
It's not easy being an offensive lineman in the NFL with the beating they take in the trenches every week.
But Lions center Dominic Raiola has stood the test of time.
When Raiola started Thursday's game, he became the first Lions player to start 200 games and the fifth active player to do so.
When the milestone was shown on the big screen, Raiola appeared to get emotional as the crowd cheered.
"I feel like I'm one with Detroit and they're one with me," Raiola said. "It's a special feeling to do it all here. We've been through a lot together."
Lions coach Jim Caldwell is only in his first season in Detroit, but he appreciates what Raiola has meant to the organization.
"There haven't been very many guys who have done it," Caldwell said. "It shows that there's excellence involved in it. Particularly at that position, you play through a lot. He can play through pain, difficulty, which is hard to do, as much banging as they do down in the trenches.
"The leadership he provides as the apex to our offensive line, is invaluable. We certainly appreciate him."
HOME FOR THANKSGIVING
Jones, a Southfield, Mich. native who went to Eastern Michigan, knows all about the Thanksgiving Day game.
But until Thursday, he hadn't played in one. Last season Jones was injured.
"It's my first time actually," Jones said. "I have a few of my family members here to watch me play. Just to be from here and growing up watching the game and actually playing in it is kind of surreal. It brings back memories for me.
"Most importantly, we got the win today."
