CHICAGO – The Bears didn’t need a late score to rally for a dramatic victory for the third straight game. But they finished just as strong Sunday against the Lions as they had in previous wins over the Steelers and Seahawks.

Sparked by rookie Johnny Knox’s 102-yard touchdown return on the second half kickoff, the Bears outscored Detroit 27-3 in the final two quarters en route to a lopsided 48-24 victory before 59,757 fans at Soldier Field.

Jay Cutler goes airborne on a 5-yard TD run Sunday in the Bears' 48-24 win over the Detroit Lions.

Knox’s TD snapped a 21-21 tie and helped the Bears (3-1) cruise into their bye week with a three-game win streak. They could move into a three-way tie atop the NFC North if the Packers (2-1) beat the Vikings (3-0) Monday night.

“To get to 3-1 takes a lot after starting out with a loss,” said coach Lovie Smith. “The guys did a super job. We need to start stronger and faster and all of that. But I’m proud of how the guys finished the game.”

All three phases made major contributions in the win.

Jay Cutler passed for two touchdowns, ran for a third and became the first Bears quarterback since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to post a passer rating of at least 100 in three straight games. Matt Forte got back on track, rushing for a season-high 121 yards on 12 carries including a career-long 61-yard run and a 37-yard TD.

The Bears defense got gashed at times, giving up touchdowns on Detroit’s first two possessions and 398 total yards in the game. But the unit generated a season-high five sacks and two key takeaways deep in Lions territory while also holding Detroit out of the end zone on seven possessions in the second half. 

The Bears excelled on special teams as well. Knox, Danieal Manning, Devin Hester and Earl Bennett all had long returns; Robbie Gould made a career-long 52-yard field goal; and Brad Maynard landed all four of his punts inside-the-20, burying two out of bounds at the 6 and the 2.

The Lions (1-3) took a 7-0 lead on Kevin Smith’s 1-yard TD run. The score came after Detroit took Jason Hanson’s apparent 40-yard field goal off the board when an offside penalty against rookie Al Afalava on the kick resulted in a first down. It was the third straight week that the Bears have allowed a TD on their opponent’s opening possession after doing so in just one game all of last season.

The Bears responded as Forte broke loose for 61 yards to the Detroit 5. Three plays later, Cutler’s 5-yard TD run on third-and-goal tied the game 7-7. As he dove into the left corner of the end zone, Cutler spun around like a helicopter propeller ala John Elway in Super Bowl XXXII when hit by linebacker Julian Peterson.

Asked whether he was channeling Elway, Cutler said: “I was not. I was just trying to get in there. If I could have just dove in there nice and quietly I would have.”

Cutler completed 18 of 28 passes for 141 yards with 2 TDs, no interceptions and a 100.4 passer rating.

Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye sacks Matthew Stafford in Sunday's win.

The Lions took a 14-7 lead on Matthew Stafford’s 14-yard TD pass to tight end Will Heller, capping a 10-play, 72-yard drive with 5:03 left in the first quarter. Stafford passed for 122 yards on Detroit’s first two possessions.

“I guess we’ve got to get punched in the face a couple times to realize we’re in a fight,” said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, who registered 2½ sacks and a fumble recovery in Sunday’s win.

Cutler put the Bears ahead 21-14 with TD passes of 2 yards to Kellen Davis and 1 yard to Greg Olsen just 3:20 apart early the second quarter. Olsen’s score came on fourth-and-goal—after the Bears opted to take Gould’s apparent 20-yard field goal off the board when an offside penalty on the kick moved the ball to the 1.

“At the time, both teams were scoring a bit,” Smith said. “It just didn’t feel like field goals would get it. If you’re at home and you can’t get a yard, you have problems anyway, so in those situations we’ll normally go for it.”

Olsen’s TD came after defensive tackle Tommie Harris intercepted a Stafford screen pass and returned it six yards to the Detroit 8. It was the first interception of Harris’ six-year NFL career.

“We’re going to hear a lot about it,” Ogunleye said. “But Tommie looked like a deer in headlights when the ball got in his hands. He didn’t know what to do with it. But I’m happy for him being able to make plays like that.”

The Bears defense took another punch when the Lions marched 98 yards to tie the score 21-21 on Smith’s 3-yard TD run with :26 left in the half. But that would be Detroit’s last trip into the end zone.

“When it was 21-21 at halftime we knew the defense was going to step up and they were going to get some stops and they played lights out,” Cutler said. “The third quarter they were unbelievable. They did a great job of getting the ball back to us. We didn’t really capitalize, but we got some field goals out of it, which helped.”

Knox provided a huge boost by returning the second-half kickoff 102 yards for a TD.

“It was great,” said special teams coordinator Dave Toub. “I’m really happy for Johnny. Every return he’s been close. It’s good to see him finally get one.”

Gould’s field goals of 52 and 22 yards increased the Bears’ lead to 34-21. The second kick came after Israel Idonije sacked Stafford, forcing a fumble that Ogunleye recovered at the Detroit 19.

Stafford completed 24 of 36 passes for 296 yards with 1 TD, 1 interception and an 89.6 passer rating before exiting with a twisted knee midway through the fourth quarter.

After Hanson’s 35-yard field goal drew the Lions to within 34-24, Forte iced the win with a 37-yard TD romp with 6:46 to play. Garrett Wolfe provided insurance with a 2-yard scoring run with 1:57 remaining.