Finally! The second half of the NFL season as here and low and behold the Detroit Lions are in position to make a run at the playoffs… who would’ve thought?
After going 6-2 to start the season, the Lions begin their second half on the road taking on the Chicago Bears at the NEW mistake by the lake. This second half though will prove to be difficult given the relatively tough schedule at hand and today’s game will be no exception.
The Bears enter today coming off three straight wins including a victory on the road against a desperate Philadelphia Eagles team. That desperation is now firmly in the hands of the Bears who know that a loss today to the Lions could mean certain doom for any playoff hopes that they may have.
The Lions on the other hand are coming off a bye week and are probably the healthiest they’ve been all season. They also enter Sunday’s matchup with the Bears 4-0 on the road and aware that a win today would put the postseason very much within reach.
Here are the keys to today’s matchup with the Bears…
Chicago player to watch: Matt Forte, RB
Chicago RB Matt Forte is exactly the type of player that could give the Lions’ defense fits all day. Forte enters the game with 148 rushing attempts for 805 yards and two touchdowns. But aside from being able to run the ball, Forte is also a threat in the air. This season he has 41 receptions for 436 yards and one touchdown.
In their first meeting of the year on Monday night, Forte rushed 22 times for 116 yards. The Lions have the 28th best rushing defense in the league and if the number hold up Forte could be in line to run all over the Lions’ defense this afternoon. That can’t happen if the Lions are planning on winning today.
Detroit player to watch: Calvin Johnson, WR
I really don’t think there’s any denying now that Calvin Johnson is the best wide receiver in the league. He has speeds, strength, skill and provides a mismatch with just about every defender he goes up against.
In his previous meeting with the Bears, Megatron had six receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown. The Bears can’t stop him and look for Matthew Stafford to look Megatron’s way a lot this afternoon.
Can the Lions get some kind of running game going?
Have the Lions had any kind of running game since Barry Sanders retired back in 1999? I remember listing off a bunch of quarterbacks the Lions went through since Brett Favre played his first game with the Green Bay Packers. This ended up being a pretty extensive list. You can pretty much now do the same thing with the amount of running backs the Lions have gone through since Barry abruptly retired via fax.
Still though my faith in Jahvid Best and what the Lions are hoping to do with Mikel Leshoure is still there. The trouble is both are hurt. Leshoure wont hit the field for the Lions until next season and there is no timetable for Best’s return after he suffered a concussion against the 49ers a few weeks ago.
To offset their struggles at the running back position the Lions brought back one of those many names since Barry Sanders in Kevin Smith who will pair up with Maurice Morris. The question though is can Kevin Smith and Maurice Morris give the Lions enough of a running game to make the air attack more effective and take some pressure of Matthew Stafford? It’s something that can’t be depended on too much.
Attack Cutler
Even though he’s been better in recent weeks, Jay Cutler is still an interception waiting to happen if you get pressure on him. Cutler has thrown for 1,910 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. If the Lions can provide adequate pressure on Cutler, the secondary must take advantage of those errant throws.
Prediction
As much as I want to say the Lions are going to go into Soldier Field and win today, I just can’t. With everything that’s stacked up against them this weekend in Forte, the road and the Bears’ desperation I don’t see the Lions getting it done. Bears win 28-17.
Ref: Mlive.com, NFL.com, Getty (image)
