Gray Goes 102 Yards in Lions’ 21-16 Win : NFC: On a day of big plays by Detroit against Chicago, kickoff return is one of the biggest.

The Detroit Lions, criticized for their inability to make big plays, came through splendidly on Sunday.

The Lions, who had gone three consecutive games without forcing a turnover, intercepted three passes and Chris Spielman returned a fumble 25 yards for his first career touchdown in a 21-16 victory over the Chicago Bears.

The Lions also got a key play from the special teams, which had come under heavy criticism in the last two losses, as Mel Gray returned a kickoff 102 yards for the winning touchdown.

“The good thing is we made a bunch of big plays by a lot of people,” Spielman said. “We talked about how we haven’t been making any (turnovers), and bam! “

Barry Sanders gained 167 of the Lions’ 183 rushing yards, with 84 coming on one play to set up Detroit’s only offensive touchdown. The run was the second longest of Sanders’ career, a yard short of his 85-yard run against Tampa Bay three weeks ago.

The Bears (4-3), who had won three in a row, did hold the Lions to eight first downs.

“Defensively, it might have been the best we’ve played all year,” Coach Dave Wannstedt said. “But our youth and immaturity was the biggest thing that showed up today.”

Despite all that, Chicago had a chance to win in the final minute. But Erik Kramer’s pass to Nate Lewis on fourth and five from the Detroit 20 was broken up by Robert Massey with 41 seconds left.

The big plays by the Lions were decisive.

Gray, who early in the game became the NFL’s career kickoff return leader, returned the kickoff for a score just as Chicago had closed to 14-10. Then, when the Bears were moving again, Milton Mack intercepted at the Detroit eight.

Kramer, returning for the Bears after missing three games with a separated shoulder, completed 29 of 48 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns. But he was intercepted three times, including twice inside the Detroit 10.