When we look back at the Bears’ victory this week over the Detroit Lions, no one is going to remember how good of a game it was. They’re going to remember one play, the play where defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was flagged for unnecessary roughness. The penalty gave the Bears a first down and they scored the go-ahead touchdown on the next play.

Referee Ed Hochuli, known for his longwinded explanations, said Suh threw an elbow to the back of Jay Cutler’s head. After seeing the replay, I am with the Lions. There should have been no flag, Suh clearly hit Cutler in the back.

However, just because there shouldn’t have been a penalty doesn’t mean the Lions can cry foul. The Bears would’ve had the ball 3rd and 2 from the Lions’ 14 rather than 1st and goal from the 7 if there was no flag. Now given the Bears’ shakiness inside the red zone, it would not have entirely surprised me if they couldn’t get the first down, but I think it would’ve been four down territory and between Chester Taylor and Matt Forte, they could’ve gotten two yards.

At least I hope. Let’s not forget, Forte was averaging 4.9 yards per carry and Taylor was averaging 3.7.

The passing game was working well to, so Cutler could have easily thrown a quick pass to Earl Bennett like he was doing all game and we would get the same result.

Lions’ coach Jim Schwartz said it best:

“Everything counts in a game. Regardless of how it’s called, there are some good calls, some bad calls, everything else. But we need to go out and we need to make a play after that. They had a touchdown, I think on the very next play. That’s a poor response to those situations.”

The Lions defense was challenged in that situation and they didn’t step up. The Bears could have easily been stuffed on the 7-yard line, but they took advantage. Football is about making plays when you need them. The Bears took advantage and the offense stepped up and made a play to give them the lead. The defense then stepped up and stopped the Lions’ offense.

The Lions didn’t step up and make a play when they needed it most. That’s why they lost the game, not because of some ...