LAKE FOREST, Ill. – In thrashing the Lions 34-7 Sunday at Ford Field, the Bears dominated the field-position battle thanks in part to another strong performance by their special teams unit.

Detroit started 12 of 14 possessions inside its own 25-yard line including at its 23, 36, 24, 22, 7, 23 and 20 following Robbie Gould kickoffs. The Lions’ only touchdown of the game came after they took over at the Chicago 22 following a Devin Hester fumble on a punt return.

Nick Roach (53) and Adrian Peterson (29) close in on Lions kick returner Brandon Middleton on Sunday.

“Our coverage units were really good, especially our kickoff team, getting down and keeping them pinned up,” said coach Lovie Smith, whose team improved to 3-2.

Jamar Williams led the Bears with three special-teams tackles, while Garrett Wolfe and Rashied Davis both had two stops. Joey LaRocque, Trumaine McBride, Darrell McClover and Marcus Hamilton each recorded one apiece.

“We’re solid across the front,” said special teams coordinator Dave Toub. “When you have a lot of guys that can make plays, that’s what makes your unit good.”

Williams is tied with Wolfe for the team lead with nine special-teams tackles this season.

“There’s a big competition out there,” Williams said. “Every time we go out there somebody usually says, ‘This is a big return. We’ve got to stop it.’ 

"Everybody wants to make that tackle. There are a lot of defensive guys out there, and a lot of times we don’t get that chance on defense to stop them. That one play we get that chance, so when we go out there, we want to pin them back as much as we can and do our best to run down there and make a play.”

Gould registered his fifth touchback of the season Sunday in Detroit, two more than he had all of last year.

The Bears’ kickoff coverage unit ranks third in the NFL both with eight tackles inside-the-20 and their opponents’ average drive following a kickoff starting at the 22.0-yard line.

Brad Maynard

“Field position is important to any team, and that’s why we do what we do on special teams,” Toub said. “It’s all about that. Our ultimate goal is to win the field-position battle every week. Our kickoff coverage has been solid so far this year.”

Brad Maynard also did his part to help that cause Sunday in Detroit, placing four of five punts inside-the-20. He would’ve gone 5 for 5, but Danieal Manning was standing on the goal line when he attempted to down a punt in the first quarter.

Maynard averaged just 33 yards per punt, but none of his punts came in Bears territory. He punted from the Detroit 37, 45, 41 and 48 and once from the 50.

“Brad Maynard kicked the ball well again like he has for quite a while,” Smith said. “It seems like each week he’s doing that now.”