Detroit Lions Weblog

Week 4: Lions Vs. Bears Preview

This week’s Lions/Bears game has a lot of long term ramifications for both teams as the current season unfolds.   The Bears, benching their starting QB for a veteran backup in Brian Griese, need to establish the consistency that helped them to make the playoffs each of the last two seasons.  The Lions are celebrating the faded memories of their last league championship today, by bringing back the surviving members of their fabled 1957 team.  This game also marks Matt Millen’s 100th as team president, and they are coming off an embarrassing (that’s your word not mine!) loss to the Eagles where they allowed 8 TD’s to a once dormant Eagles offense.

To say that this a huge intra-divisional game for both teams is an understatement.    As the Lions continue to attempt to prove that they are not the “Same Ol’ Lions” each game, especially those at home, carry more weight.  The Bears have enjoyed being the class of the NFC North during recent seasons, but the jackrabbit start of the Packers has placed more pressure upon the Bears to perform well in each game than they have been accustomed to in recent years.

Offensively, it’s the same old tired refrain for the Lions.   The Bears have a tough rushing defense, but the Lions need to at least give lip service to their ground attack to keep the Bears safeties, linebackers, and defensive ends honest when the Lions attempt to pass.  Kevin Jones should get more involved in the Lions offense each passing week, and considering the lackluster performance of Tatum Bell, and continuing injury problems of T.J. Duckett, Jones involvement can’t return to the fore a moment too soon.

 The Bears have a ton of injuries on defense (Nathan Vasher, Charles Tillman, Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris, Dusty Dvoracek, and Mike Brown) and are coming off of a poor performance against the Cowboys last week.

Considering the Bears banged up defense, the Lions may have one of their best opportunities, while playing at home, to actually beat the Bears.  Even if Calvin Johnson’s playing time is reduced, the Lions have got to love their chances if they get to face CB’s Ricky Manning, Jr. and Trumaine McBride as starters.   When the Lions utilize their multi-receiver sets, they should really enjoy a serious advantage, as long as they are able to keep Jon Kitna upright.

Defensively, the Lions have a ton of work to do.   Bears veteran QB Brian Griese will not induce awe in observers, but the Bears desperately need some stability in their offense.   I expect the Bears to follow a similar blueprint as the Eagles in last week’s game.   The Bears will attempt to establish the run with Cedric Benson, in hopes of opening their play action passing game.   I also expect Benson and Adrian Peterson to be on the receiving end of a lot of swing and screen passes, until the Lions prove that they can tackle well enough for opposing teams to stop utilizing such a basic aspect of their playbook.  Griese who is more of a “west coast”-style of QB, will occasionally be called upon to take some deep shots to Bernard Berrian, Mark Bradley, and Rashied Davis.   The Lions secondary must do a major turnaround coming off of last week’s horrific performance.

In the end, the Lions offense will overcome a banged up Bears defense.   The Bears can ill afford to fall behind with Griese at QB, since they will feature a more methodical, vanilla-type of offense with him at the helm.  Lions 27 Bears 20