The Chicago Bears return from their bye week Sunday at Soldier Field in the hunt for their first two-game profitable streak since 2021. But the 4-8 Bears must pull off the upset towards the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions (9-3), who stormed again from a 17-point deficit to win the primary assembly Nov. 19.
With kickoff approaching, right here’s our snapshot take a look at the sport.
Player within the highlight
Lions quarterback Jared Goff
Goff had an uncharacteristic stretch of turnovers with three interceptions towards the Bears on Nov. 19 and three fumbles towards the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 23.
The Bears recreation was simply the third time in his profession he has thrown greater than two picks and the primary since 2019. His profession excessive of 4 interceptions got here towards the Bears at Soldier Field in 2018 when he performed for the Los Angeles Rams.
Now Goff, who has thrown solely 5 different interceptions this season, goes up towards a Bears protection that totaled 4 extra picks in Week 12 towards Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs.
“Really (it was) just taking away the soft spot,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson stated of the Lions recreation. “They like to attack the middle of the field. … So taking away the middle of the field and also creating pressure for them. I know we had a lot of pressures and sacks in there as well. So it’s just making him uncomfortable in that way, taking away where he wants to throw the ball.”
Led by Montez Sweat, the Bears had eight quarterback hits and two sacks within the recreation.
As Sweat famous, when the Bears’ stress ends in the again finish of the protection getting a takeaway: “That (expletive) is like poetry in motion, man. That’s what you want.”
However, Goff bounced again within the first assembly with the Bears, main two landing drives within the last 5 minutes to gasoline the victory. More on that subsequent.
Pressing query
Will the Bears be motivated by the best way they misplaced to the Lions?
Johnson provided the reminder to his teammates this week. Yes, a more healthy Bears protection has provide you with seven interceptions in two video games. But the Bears additionally let Goff and the Lions surge again from a 26-14 fourth-quarter deficit to win 31-26.
Now the Bears are targeted on being dominant by way of the complete 4 quarters.
“Like, ‘Hey, don’t forget how we lost the game last time,’ ” Johnson stated. “Just going out there and making sure we’re being intentional with our communication, being on top of the details. We know what we can do physically with this team, but we’ve got to go out there and finish, and that takes a certain mental focus and locking in to finish it throughout this week and finish it in the game.”
The Bears closed out a 12-10 victory towards the Vikings in Week 12, however they nonetheless have the Lions loss at the back of their minds, security Eddie Jackson stated.
“This is probably the worst-feeling loss I feel like as players that we’ve had,” Jackson stated. “To go out the way we did, it just sucks. I feel like everyone still has that taste in their mouths.”
But Lions coach Dan Campbell informed reporters in Detroit this week that his workforce is hungry too.
“I’m not worried about revenge (from the Bears),” Campbell stated. “I’m worried about what this team presents.”
Keep an eye fixed on …
Justin Fields’ speeding stats
Campbell was robust in his reward for Fields when speaking with reporters concerning the challenges he presents. In Fields’ final three video games towards the Lions, he has rushed for 104, 132 and 147 yards.
But Campbell stated he thinks Fields is also enhancing in trying down the sector whereas on the transfer as a way to discover the go when it’s there.
“Every week, I guarantee you, every team does the same as what we’re talking about, (which) is how (do) you contain this guy?” Campbell stated. “You preserve him within the pocket, you don’t let him out and each week he will get out. Every week. … It’s a special pace, it’s a special quickness and it’s laborious to simulate in follow. We’re going to do the very best we are able to with it, but it surely’s at all times bought to be an emphasis. Listen, he’s harmful. He’s one among these uncommon, harmful gamers.
“And I’ll tell you what he’s done a really good job of, from last year to this year. … If it’s a pass and he starts to move, he’s still moving with eyes down the field, much more than I felt like he had previously. And that’s extremely dangerous because even in Minnesota, he had two or three receivers wide open after he had kind of run, found a way through, broke contain and all of a sudden he gets an explosive pass off of it.”
Bears working backs rushed for 79 yards within the first assembly with the Lions, however they could possibly be a more healthy group this time as D’Onta Foreman is cleared to come back again from an ankle harm that pushed him out of the Lions recreation early.
Stretching it out?
The Bears are in search of extra explosive performs this week than they confirmed towards the Vikings, once they tried to fight the opponent’s stress with the horizontal passing recreation. The Bears managed simply 4 Cairo Santos subject objectives within the recreation as Fields threw for 217 yards.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy stated a number of the fast passes in that recreation had been “RPO-ish” based mostly on what the Vikings protection introduced, and Fields made the precise prognosis on all however a few them.
“At least half of those (short passes), you’re not calling them to do that,” Getsy stated. “That’s the reaction because of what you’re presented. And so as you go through those types of game plans, you want to have answers for your guys. Whether you’re changing to a max protection, whether you’re changing to a perimeter RPO screen … there are a bunch of different ways you can attack it. And I think it’s really important when you play a team that does that much that you don’t have too much for your guys too.”
Getsy additionally stated the Bears missed out on three to 4 explosive performs due to safety points or miscommunication points within the backfield or up entrance. Eberflus stated the Bears must see extra massive performs.
The Lions, in fact, will not be the Vikings, although go rusher Aidan Hutchinson presents challenges. The Lions protection has given up 30.3 factors and 373.5 yards per recreation over the past 4 video games. The Lions additionally positioned defensive sort out Alim McNeill on injured reserve this week with a knee harm.
When Fields was requested if he was prepared for a extra regular offensive strategy, he stated: “I’m looking forward to it.”
Injury report
The Bears will likely be with out large receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, who suffered a pectoral harm whereas blocking this week in follow. Fellow receivers Tyler Scott (hamstring tightness) and Velus Jones Jr. (sickness) are questionable to play.
“You’ve just got to have your backup plans,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus stated of receiver depth. “We’ll be ready.”
Defensive finish Yannick Ngakoue (knee) is also questionable.
For the Lions, middle Frank Ragnow (knee/again/toe) and backup quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee) are out. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle) is questionable.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (8-4)
Before middle Frank Ragnow, who has a number of accidents, went down and defensive sort out Alim McNeill (knee) was positioned on injured reserve, one thing was amiss in Detroit. The Lions have gained three of their final 4 video games — the one loss a 29-22 setback to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving — however they’ve been exceedingly fortunate. Good groups have a approach of creating their very own luck, and the Lions definitely qualify. But the protection has been off of late. The Lions have allowed a mean of 30.3 factors and 373.5 yards within the four-game stretch. That’s 76.6 yards extra per recreation than they allowed by way of the primary eight. The Bears ran for 183 yards within the Week 11 assembly, the primary of three straight video games opponents have gone for 100-plus yards on the bottom. The Bears are wholesome. They ought to have a bonus within the parts. Their protection is taking part in higher. They look primed to drag off an upset.
Bears 27, Lions 24
Colleen Kane (8-4)
The Bears protection is undoubtedly taking part in higher by way of some mixture of well being, chemistry and the Montez Sweat impact. But is it anticipating an excessive amount of to suppose they may rattle Jared Goff into one other three turnovers this time? Maybe. Meanwhile, Bears quarterback Justin Fields seemed fairly good the primary time towards the Lions, who’ve faltered on protection of late. But given the Bears offense’s odd however well-explained displaying towards the Vikings, by which they threw principally passes at or behind the road of scrimmage and didn’t get ultimately zone, it’s laborious to know in the event that they’re constructing momentum. The Bears and Fields must be much more productive on this one, however I don’t know that it’s going to be sufficient to overhaul the division leaders.
Lions 28, Bears 26
Dan Wiederer (8-4)
It’s now or by no means for the Bears. An alternative for a signature win over a playoff workforce awaits with the Lions coming to Soldier Field simply three weeks after rallying for a 31-26 win within the groups’ first assembly in Detroit. The Bears managed that recreation for greater than 55 minutes and have their protection trending in the precise path. They in all probability can’t anticipate to create one other 4 turnovers within the rematch. But no matter takeaways they do get, they should money in. And Justin Fields and the offense must stay productive towards a protection that gave them a mess of big-play alternatives final month.
Bears 24, Lions 23
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Source: www.bostonherald.com