NFL Week 4 Preview: Lions Look To Keep Momentum Against The Bears
Lance Briggs and the Bears will look to keep the Lions from gaining momentum following their first win since 2007.
Overview: Now that the Detroit Lions have proven that they can win a football game, the question is whether they are good enough to compete on a regular basis or were they just fortunate to be playing a Redskins team that seems destined for turmoil.
The Bears have recovered from their struggles on opening night and now seem to be settling into their role as a solid defensive team with some flashes of offensive prowess.
Last Week: Detroit ended their 19-game losing streak with a 19-14 victory over the Washington Redskins. Rookie quarterback Matt Stafford had his finest day completing 21 of 26 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Smith rushed for 105 yards before an injury forced him from the game. Washington had a chance to win at the end, but the Lions held on.
The Bears needed a 36-yard touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to Devin Hester to defeat the Seahawks 25-19. Jay Cutler was 21 for 27 for 247 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. The defense allowed 346 yards of offense, but held on for the win.
All-Time Series: Chicago owns an 89-64-5 advantage in this long-time rivalry, including wins in six of the last eight meetings. The matchup last season in week nine was actually one of the closest games the Lions had all season as they lost 27-23 and were firing passes toward the end zone as time expired.
Key Questions Entering Week Four:
Detroit Lions: Now that the weight of such a long losing streak is off the Lions, the question is whether they can build momentum from that victory and start to regain respectability. Stafford played a controlled game against Washington and the running of Kevin Smith was a great balancer. The defense also played a solid game and is definitely improving.
Chicago Bears: While Jay Cutler has settled into his role running the offense, the usually reliable Chicago running game is still struggling. Matt Forte had 66 yards against Seattle, which isn’t good, but was his best performance of the season. He is averaging 2.5 yards per carry. The Bears must get better run blocking from the offensive line and better run production from Forte in order to keep teams from teeing off at Cutler.
Player To Watch:
Calvin Johnson will look to continue his high-flying ways against the Bears.
Detroit Lions: Calvin Johnson has shown signs of emerging as the playmaker everyone expected him to be coming out of Georgia Tech. He seems to be gaining a rapport with Stafford and if that happens, could become a superstar. The secondary of the Bears has struggled at times this season, so watch for Johnson to try and exploit their weaknesses.
Chicago Bears: Lance Briggs was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Seahawks. However, he is listed as questionable for the game against Detroit with a foot injury. With Brian Urlacher out for the season, Briggs is making it clear that he is now the leader of the defense. Expect him to play against the Lions and continue his strong 2009 campaign.
Predictions: The Lions are definitely better than a year ago and will continue to improve and gain momentum. However, the Bears are simply a better team, especially at Soldier Field. This will be a closer game than you might expect, but the Bears will make the plays on both sides of the ball needed to emerge with the victory.
Final Score: Chicago Bears 24, Detroit 14.
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