The Detroit Lions will attempt to maintain their playoff hopes alive once they play host to the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Ford Field.
The Bears, in the meantime, will attempt to maintain their shedding streak from reaching 9 video games, which might be the longest in a single season in workforce historical past.
As kickoff approaches, right here’s our snapshot take a look at the sport.
1. Pressing query
Can the Bears run over the Lions once more?
When the Lions beat the Bears 31-30 on Nov. 13 at Soldier Field, the Bears racked up 258 dashing yards, their second-best output this season behind 281 in opposition to the Houston Texans. The complete in opposition to the Lions included 147 yards on the bottom from quarterback Justin Fields and 57 from operating again Khalil Herbert.
Coming off one in all their worst dashing performances of the season in opposition to the Buffalo Bills, the Bears might get their floor recreation going once more in opposition to a Lions protection that provides up 145.9 dashing yards per recreation, tied for twenty eighth within the NFL.
The Lions protection is coming off its worst efficiency of the season, when it gave up 570 yards, together with 320 on the bottom, in a 37-23 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
“Every time we play, the running game opens up everything else,” Fields mentioned. “We definitely want to have a rushing attack each and every game, so it’s important. The guys this week are going to work hard at it, and hopefully we get it going this Sunday.”
Against the Bills, Fields had 11 dashing yards, David Montgomery 62 and Herbert 7 yards on six carries in his first recreation again from injured reserve with a hip harm. Herbert is averaging 59 dashing yards per recreation and 5.7 yards per carry this season.
“It was a long five weeks, so it felt good just being able to be back out there, get hit again and go through everything,” Herbert mentioned. “It was definitely just getting back into the groove of things.”
2. Man within the highlight
Lions coach Dan Campbell
Campbell has led a turnaround in his second season with the Lions, who have been 3-13-1 final yr and opened this season 1-6.
Before the loss to the Panthers in Week 16, the Lions had gained six of their earlier seven video games to vault into competition for a playoff spot. That streak began with back-to-back wins over the Green Bay Packers and Bears in November.
The Lions are enjoying for his or her first playoff berth since 2016 and attempting to beat the Bears twice in the identical season for the primary time since 2017. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy mentioned the Bears expect an thrilling ambiance at Ford Field, an expertise he thinks can profit Fields and the remainder of the workforce as they attempt to construct for the long run.
“It’s huge, right?” Getsy mentioned. “That’s where we want to be. We want to be in those important moments where we are playing these games, whether it’s solidifying a seed or getting an opportunity to get in the dance. This is a really good opportunity for these guys to see it. Playing the two caliber teams we just played (the Philadelphia Eagles and Bills) and then the two caliber teams we’re about to play (the Lions and Minnesota Vikings), this is why we do what we do.”
Campbell has been the face of the turnaround, and Bears coach Matt Eberflus mentioned he briefly bought to know him when Campbell interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts.
“I just appreciate his energy, his passion for the game,” Eberflus mentioned.
3. Keep a watch on …
The St. Brown brothers, Part 2
Second-year Lions vast receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown topped 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the primary time in his profession in Week 16. He had 10 catches for 119 yards within the first recreation in opposition to the Bears and has had at the least six catches in each recreation since then.
St. Brown is a part of a Lions offense led by quarterback Jared Goff that ranks fourth within the NFL with 375.5 yards per recreation.
Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams mentioned coaches obtain a color-coded sheet every week, with classes an opponent ranks nicely in highlighted in inexperienced. The Lions, Williams mentioned, have loads of inexperienced, beginning with scoring offense. The Lions common 26.1 factors per recreation.
“They don’t give the football away,” Williams mentioned. “They protect the ball. You see explosive plays — green. They’re doing well third and fourth down. You see touchdowns, rushing and receiving — green. So they do a lot of things extremely well. And if you look at the trend, the trend is (going up). They’re getting healthy. …They are a really good team and a really good challenge.”
While the Bears protection shall be involved in regards to the youthful St. Brown brother, the Bears offense might welcome again older brother Equanimeous St. Brown on Sunday after he missed Week 16 with a concussion. Before his harm, St. Brown had seven catches for 136 yards in his earlier 4 video games. He was restricted in apply Thursday.
4. Rookie trio
Bears defensive backs coach James Rowe mentioned he’s beginning to see rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon construct confidence. Gordon intercepted Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen in back-to-back weeks to convey his complete to a few picks and 6 passes defended this season.
“You can tell he’s starting to be himself, relaxing,” Rowe mentioned. “Now he’s starting to open up, starting to have a little bit more swagger about him. So those are good things to see, and that’s positively affecting his game on the field.”
With Jaylon Johnson and Kindle Vildor out for the season, the Bears trio of rookie cornerbacks — Gordon and undrafted Jaylon Jones and Josh Blackwell — have one other problem forward shutting down Goff, who has thrown for 3,959 yards, 26 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, his final choose coming in Week 9.
Williams mentioned typically when he realizes the Bears have three rookie starters at nook, he thinks to himself, “Whoa.” But he credit their mentality of being ready to step in. Rowe additionally credit the extra veteran gamers who assist them, together with Johnson.
“Just him sharing his knowledge, his understanding of the game, his experiences and the way he might have played certain things,” Rowe mentioned. “We have good dialogue in the room where guys feel open to ask questions and other guys feel open to answer. I feel like the young guys have just been taking it all in. They’ve been nothing but sponges, and then they’ve been able to apply it.”
5. Injury report
The Bears seem like getting more healthy with proper guard Teven Jenkins (neck) and left guard Cody Whitehair (knee) practising in full Thursday.
Wide receiver Chase Claypool (knee) was restricted together with St. Brown. Claypool mentioned it has been “super frustrating” to sit down out the final two video games.
“We’ve just got to play it day by day,” Claypool mentioned. “It simply is dependent upon how (the knee) reacts to practising. So we’ll simply know extra data nearer to the top.
“I’m going to do everything I can to play. So my expectation is to play, but I also have got to be smart.”
Wide receiver Dante Pettis (ankle), linebacker Sterling Weatherford (sickness) and offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter (again) didn’t apply Thursday. Tight finish Trevon Wesco (calf) was restricted.
For the Lions, security DeShon Elliott (shoulder), heart Frank Ragnow (foot) and guard Kayode Awosika (ankle) didn’t apply. Safety Kerby Joseph (again), guard Logan Stenberg (sickness) and linebacker Josh Woods (biceps) have been restricted.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (9-6)
The potential return of vast receiver Chase Claypool (knee) and Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) would give quarterback Justin Fields some extra assistance on the skin in opposition to a Lions protection that struggles in all areas. Fields might want to make large performs — throwing and operating — for the Bears to spring an upset. The Lions have a formidable offensive line, and that — coupled with what ought to be a raucous Ford Field crowd — provides them the sting.
Lions 34, Bears 31
Colleen Kane (10-5)
The Lions have extra to play for this week at dwelling, the place they’ll seemingly have a crowd obsessed with one thing to cheer in January for the primary time in a number of years. And the Lions even have the motivation coming off an unpleasant loss to the Panthers. But I believe Justin Fields, David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert have a possibility to place up large numbers in opposition to the Lions protection, particularly if the Bears development a bit more healthy this week. If the Bears pull off their first win since Oct. 24, it may not assist their draft standing, nevertheless it definitely would enhance participant confidence and morale.
Bears 26, Lions 24
Dan Wiederer (10-5)
The Bears offense will get a golden alternative to regain momentum going through a leaky Lions protection that doesn’t do a lot nicely. The Lions permit extra yards than any workforce within the NFL, wrestle mightily on third down and might be taken benefit of within the pink zone. Chalk this up as an opportunity for Justin Fields so as to add to his spotlight reel. But the Lions are at dwelling, nonetheless have professional playoff aspirations and shall be hungry after final week’s lopsided loss to the Panthers. And Jared Goff has been enjoying nicely during the last two months.
Lions 30, Bears 24
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Source: www.bostonherald.com