Record-setting day for Hester
DETROIT -- The Lions' special teams managed to do something the Bears' offense hasn't this season -- get the ball to Devin Hester.
Even though Detroit's plan was to avoid the Bears' electrifying return specialist at all costs, the Lions somehow managed to kick the ball to Hester 12 times. The result was a franchise-record 314 return yards Sunday, including a 97-yard touchdown on a fourth-quarter kickoff.
According to NFL.com, Hester produced the second-highest combined kick return yards in league history. The all-time record is 347 yards by New Orleans' Tyrone Hughes against the Los Angeles Rams in 1994.
"I know there are going to be some games when they kick to me, there are going to be some games where they're not," a subdued Hester said following the game. "When the time comes, I'm just hoping that I'll be able to step up to the challenge."
Hester's previous best day came Dec. 11 last year in St. Louis on a Monday night when he brought back 2 kickoffs back for touchdowns and had 246 return yards. He has 7 career kick returns for touchdowns in 20 games and is more than halfway to breaking Brian Mitchell's NFL record of 13.
Hester set the tone on his first punt return of the day. He reversed field, easily won a footrace to the corner and gained 29 yards before fumbling out of bounds. Hester added a 31-yard punt return in the third quarter.
"We were trying to punt it out of bounds," Lions coach Rod Marinelli said. "That was our plan. We couldn't get it out. Then we were going to kick to him early, in the corners, and we decided after that (touchdown), we're squibbing."
Meanwhile, the Bears again sent Hester onto to the field for a few offensive snaps, and he managed 1 catch for 3 yards.
It was unusual to see Hester get so many clean looks at kick returns. He did have 11 returns against Tampa Bay last season, but his second-highest number of touches as a rookie was seven.
"It's not amazing (that the Lions kicked to him)," Hester said. "This is the NFL. This is the highest (level) of football you can play. Guys on the other side are getting paid, too."
A Hester touchdown is often a momentum-changing play for the Bears. His 97-yard return Sunday came after the Lions took a 17-13 lead with 13:14 remaining by returning an interception 64 yards for a score.
This time, the Bears couldn't capitalize. Less than three minutes after Hester's touchdown, Detroit took the lead for good on its way to a 34-point fourth quarter.