Jameson Williams had much to be grateful for as the Detroit Lions narrowly defeated the Chicago Bears 23-20 on Thanksgiving night.
However, Williams nearly jeopardized the victory with a lapse in judgment, earning a taunting penalty that cost the Lions 15 yards. The Bears came close to capitalizing on this mistake, threatening to steal the game in the final moments.
Despite the tense finish, the Lions improved to 11-1, continuing their impressive season. With Super Bowl aspirations, the team holds itself to high standards. Williams accepted responsibility for his error, drawing praise from quarterback Jared Goff for his accountability.
“That’s huge. He’s right where he needs to be and doing a good job. I know it was a mistake, but I’m proud of him for owning up to it. We’ll move on,” Goff said, per Ben Raven of M Live.
Opposing players may now aim to provoke Williams after seeing him lose composure and toss the ball toward a defender. However, the Lions have addressed the issue, with head coach Dan Campbell confident it won’t linger.
“Look, I’ll be honest, that’s already cleaned up”. Jamo got in front of the team and apologized unsolicited. That’s big, man. That’s growth, Campbell said.
Williams’ penalty hurt the Lions, though it didn’t result in a loss. On the same drive, the Lions missed a 45-yard field goal that would have extended their lead to two touchdowns.
The Bears capitalized, scoring on the following possession and forcing a defensive stop to give themselves a final chance. They threatened to win but ran out of time on the game’s last play.
