Lions vs. Bears point spread: Detroit gets backdoor cover on Ryan Broyles touchdown

The Chicago Bears continued their strong 2012 season, improving to 5-1 in a 13-7 win Monday over the Detroit Lions. From a gambling perspective, what was generally viewed as a Bears domination was actually a stunning result, decided in the closing seconds. In a season in which the Lions had covered only once, while the Bears had covered four times, it was the underdog getting the late backdoor cover.

The Bears entered the game as 6½-point favorites and appeared ready to blow through a Lions squad looking as incompetent as could be. The Lions did everything but hand the Bears points, committing four turnovers on the night. The Bears jumped on top early with 10 first-quarter points, but they stumbled on offense the rest of the way, adding three more fourth-quarter points.

The Lions appeared incapable of scoring in this game, but the Bears gave them one last opportunity late. The Bears punted late in the fourth quarter, setting up the Lions at their own 42 with 2:13 to go. As any gambler will tell you, everybody knew how this would play out. The Lions marched down the field, capping the drive on a Matthew Stafford touchdown pass to Ryan Broyles with 30 seconds left. The Lions were unable to recover the onside kick and the Bears escaped with the 13-6 victory.

If you had the Lions covering, congratulations. If you had the Bears covering, my sympathies on a thoroughly bad beat.