Bears vs Lions: Game Time and Analysis

It's been 10 years since the Detroit Lions have hosted a Monday Night Football game. Coming into the season, it could have been argued that tonight's game would have been a battle for relevance. We just didn't know it would be the Chicago Bears fighting to stay relevant.

After a 2-2 start, the Bears find themselves in an early must-win situation against the Detroit Lions. The Bears have won six straight games against Detroit, but these aren’t your typical bottom-dwellers that only make it on television because of a Thanksgiving tradition. The Lions are off to their best start since opening the 1956 season with six consecutive wins and have now won eight straight games dating back to last season.

Ironically, the Bears were the last team to beat them.  

With a healthy Matthew Stafford, he's the best wide receiver in the NFL. He became the first WR in history to start a season with two touchdown receptions in four consecutive games and has eight on the season. While Johnson’s hot start is certainly troubling, the Bears have historically done a good job of limiting his production in the past. In seven career games against Chicago, Johnson has totaled only 484 receiving yards with three touchdowns. Johnson only had one game where he went over the century mark and that was in 2009. Getting safety Chris Harris back from injury will be a big help to a beleaguered secondary that hasn’t played well in its last three games.

Offensively it will again be a question of how much the Bears commit to running the football. Even in Detroit’s comeback victories against Minnesota and Dallas, the Lions gave up more than 100 yards on the ground. While people can debate whether they would rather have Jay Cutler or Stafford under center, the Bears’ one distinct advantage against Detroit in the running game. The Lions are ranked 29^th in rushing, averaging 74.5 yards per game while the Bears are 20^th at 96.3 yards per game. It will be imperative for the Bears to control the clock with running back Matt Forte so that Detroit's offense is kept on the sidelines.  

As always, the matchup to watch will be how well the Bears’ ever-changing offensive line plays in both the run game and keeping Jay Cutler upright. How will this unit handle the Lions’ front four -- which has recorded nine sacks on the season?  Ndamukong Suh gets much of the publicity, but his presence at tackle has allowed Detroit’s defensive ends to take advantage of one-on-one matchups. Kyle Vanden Bosch already has three sacks on the year.

With every seat filled and a couple thousand standing room-only tickets purchased, Ford Field will be rocking and ready to go. No matter the outcome of Monday night’s game, Detroit has already proven it is a legitimate playoff contender. Will the Bears be able to join the conversation after Monday?

The game will start at 7:30 p.m. Central Time and will be aired on ESPN.

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