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Chicago Bears coach Fox on Barth's missed FG: 'We will evaluate it'

After the 27-24 loss to the Lions, Bears coach John Fox did not offer a vote of confidence when asked about Connor Barth's missed field-goal attempt from 46 yards out in the final seconds that would have sent the game into overtime.

"We're a production-based business," Fox said. "That's what we get paid to do, whether it's winning games as a head coach or whether it's making kicks as a kicker. We will evaluate it. Every time we go out there, we will do everything we can to put the best team we can out there."

The Bears were 27th in the league in FG percentage, even before Barth missed his fifth kick in 16 attempts. His current 68.8 percent accuracy rate is well below his career mark, which was 84.0 entering the season.

"I do think we got close enough," wide receiver Kendall Wright said of the drive that led to Barth's miss. "But throughout the game, there's things that happen where we could score touchdowns, and we then don't have to put the game on Connor."

On their first possession, the Bears had first-and-goal at the Lions' eight-yard line but settled for Barth's 23-yard field goal.

"When we get down there, we have to get touchdowns instead of threes," Wright said. "We shouldn't have put the game on Connor, but it happened like that."

Good and bad:

Quarterback Mitch Trubisky's 19-yard scramble on fourth-and-13 might have been one of the plays of the year if the Bears pulled out a victory.

But it was a great example of his athleticism and decision-making.

"I was just going through my progressions and it felt like I had to scramble," he said, matter-of-factly. "I saw a seam and figured I could pick up a first down, I'm glad it worked out."

Trubisky took the blame for his first-half fumble that the Lions' DJ Hayden returned 27 yards for a touchdown.

"It was on me, I didn't secure the snap," he said. "That's unacceptable, and it can't happen. I didn't know where it went. It bounced right to them, which is lucky for them but unfortunate for us."

Searching for consistency:

The Bears scored 17 points the first 21 minutes and 30 seconds of the game but just 7 points in the remaining 39:30.

"We just have to make the plays throughout the whole game," said wide receiver Kendall Wright who had 2 catches for 25 yards. "It can't be (just) make plays in the first quarter or the second quarter. You have to make plays the whole game. That's the ultimate goal."

The Bears ran 31 plays and piled up 235 total yards of offense in the first half, but in a scoreless third quarter, they ran only 12 plays for 45 yards.

Big-time ups:

Tarik Cohen soared over Lions tacklers to complete the final few yards of his 15-yard TD run that forged a 24-24 tie with 5:02 remaining.

"I saw it was a one-on-one," Cohen said, as he approached the goal line. "I had to stop (the defender's) feet, so I gave him a hesitation move, and then I just had to go over the top. I felt like I had a 44-inch vertical."

Making it worse:

Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd left the field on a cart early in the fourth quarter with what "looks like a really serious knee injury," coach John Fox said. "I hate to speculate, but usually when you get taken out on a cart, it's not great."

Floyd is second on the team with 5 ½ sacks.

Wide receiver Josh Bellamy left in the third quarter and is in the concussion protocol. Cornerback Kyle Fuller and defensive lineman Eddie Goldman suffered wrist injuries but returned.

Sitting it out:

Cornerback Bryce Callahan (knee), linebacker Danny Trevathan (calf) and tight end Dion Sims (illness) were inactive Sunday, though all were listed as questionable after not practicing all week. Al three were also inactive last week after being listed as "questionable" an not practicing all week.

The Bears' other inactives were quarterback Mark Sanchez, running back Taquan Mizzell, defensive lineman John Jenkins and guard Tom Compton.

• Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere.

  Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen scores in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago. The extra point tied the game. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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