PLAYER NOTES
–LB Aaron Lynch (concussion) is in the NFL protocol and did not make the trip to Detroit.
–TE Adam Shaheen (concussion) is in the NFL protocol and did not make the trip to Detroit.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: LB Khalil Mack. Just when it seems Mack has probed the boundaries of his talent, he comes up with something new. His highlight in the first game included beating a tight-end chip block, then mauling Lions tackle Taylor Decker to get right to quarterback Matthew Stafford. Last week, he threw 300-pound tackle Riley Reiff to the ground with one hand. Mack has eight sacks and his five forced fumbles (in just eight games) lead the NFL.
GAME PLAN: The Bears may want to dump a ton of four-wideout sets on the Lions defense, considering how hard the Lions found it to match up one-on-one against Bears receivers in the first game. Both Anthony Miller and Allen Robinson II broke wide open early and often and had over 100 yards receiving each. Of course, the Bears could be limited at this if Mitchell Trubisky is hurt worse than they’re letting on. Detroit will likely make the coverages more simple in a shorter week, which can’t hurt. More horizontal running in this game is dictated by the presence of Damon Harrison inside. After arriving in Detroit and playing one game, Harrison has adjusted to the new scheme quickly and the Lions’ interior run defense has improved drastically, allowing the Bears and Panthers just 54 and 56 rushing yards respectively. Going side to side and tiring Harrison and the stout interior is the best approach for the Bears on offense.
Anticipate the Bears will come after Matthew Stafford with more blitzing because the first game they stayed put for the most part and had pressure from Mack, Leonard Floyd and Akiem Hicks. Coordinator Vic Fangio may want to switch it up and add to Detroit’s confusion by blitzing the middle, especially against a struggling offensive line that has allowed 20 sacks over the last four games. Mixed and disguised coverages will be the approach in the back line. Stafford is the kind of passer who can beat standard cover 2.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Bears CB Prince Amukamara, who had an interception in the first game between the teams, vs. Lions WR Kenny Golladay, who has 14 catches for 191 yards and two TDs in his last two games. With Marvin Jones Jr. trying to get over an injury, Golladay becomes the chief Lions threat. He had a six-catch, 78-yard day in the last game against the Bears and was the only dependable weapon Matthew Stafford had. Golladay has a 4-inch height advantage here, but Amukamara has defended other tall receivers well with his technique. In the first game with Detroit he had two passes deflected, eight tackles and two forced fumbles besides his interception.
–Bears WR Allen Robinson II, who had six catches for 133 yards and two TDs against Detroit in the first game, vs. Lions CB Darius Slay, who came back from a hamstring injury last week to make two pass deflections and four tackles. “Big Play” Slay wasn’t available in the first game and the Bears feasted amid the confusion in Detroit’s secondary. Tackles were missed, players were out of position. Slay is their leader and their best cover man. He’ll make a difference. He proved he was back healthy last week when he came across field and ran down DJ Moore while being clocked at 21.89 MPH by NFL Next Gen stats.
–Bears LB Danny Trevathan, who led a rush defense coming off a season’s best effort (22 yards against Vikings), vs. Lions RB LeGarrette Blount, who has 16 yards on 21 carries in the last five games. As the Lions went more to Kerryon Johnson, Blount faded into the background. But Johnson’s ankle injury looks like it will mean more carries for Blount. And he’s exactly the kind of back who hurt the Bears’ rush defense earlier this season. Frank Gore pounded the Bears for the Dolphins between the tackles. Trevathan and the Bears defense have been making their plays in the backfield against the run.
