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The Bears and Lions meet in the motor city in their first MNF football match up in 10 years. The Bears find themselves looking up at the 4-0 Lions and Packers. So if this team plans on starting to gain ground in the NFC North, it's uphill battle will start against the Lions. Here are the Five Keys to the Bears Victory on Monday Night.
1. Take 'Megatron' out of the Game
With two touchdowns in each of the last 4 games, Calvin Johnson has broken into that top 3 category of elite WR's in the NFL. His ability to catch a ball in triple coverage and be 'that guy' Matthew Stafford can just throw the ball up to and hope he comes down with it, is just uncanny. Tillman should provide the best coverage for the Bears at cornerback, and putting a safety over the top will help. But 'Megatron' has proven (especially last week) that he is a play maker and taking him out of the game will also depend on how much pressure the Bears front four can put of Matthew Stafford.
Matt Forte is coming off a career high 205 yard game against a 31rst ranked Carolina Defense. Detroit's front four is better than the Panthers so running through the middle won't be an easy task. Detroit ranks 20th in Run Def with an average of 113 yards against so it's definitely possible for Forte to have a big day. Although their pass def is ranked 12th, they still allow 221 yards a game. If Forte can run the ball and set up the pass for Cutler, the Bears will find success against the Lions defense. Expect to the Bears run outside away from Van Don Bosch and throw screen passes over the DLine. But they have to pound the ball to establish the run to keep this Lion's defense honest.
3. Time of Possession
A teams best defense is keeping the other teams offense off the field. This is crucial to the Bears success this week. The Lions aren't running the ball well this year being ranked 29th in Rushing Offense. The entire Lion's offense is based on the success of the passing game. So every pass Stafford misses will stop the clock, keeping the 'time of possesion' game in the Bear's favor. If the Bears can run the ball and keep the clock ticking with Stafford and 'Megatron' on the sidelines, they can limit the "big" plays against them and force the Lion's offense to make mistakes against a Bear's defense that forces teams to make the short throws and go the length of the field.
4. No Turnovers
Jay Cutler has thrown a few interceptions, but if you take away the fluke play against Atlanta and the WR's who should make those catches, he has done a good job holding onto the ball. The offensive line will have two big tasks (Suh & Fairley) ahead of them and keeping Jay Cutler upright will be a challenge. With a good offensive decisions and a balanced attack, Cutler and the Bears will find success against this Lion's defense. But if Jay Cutler decides to go "Tony Romo" and throw pick sixes and hand the ball back to the Lion's, it's going to be a long Monday evening.
5. Jay Cutler Needs to Step Up
Last week the Bears put the load of the offense on Matt Forte's shoulders, and he delivered. And this man has yet to be paid. Jay Cutler signed a 2 year extension worth $30 million, but he has yet to have the 'lights out' game that brings him up to the next level. His footwork has been shaky, and over the last two weeks he has overthrown guys (some which led to an INT), and has missed very easy throws, missing a guy low or throwing to the wrong shoulder. This would be the perfect game for Cutler to show that he is not another "Tony Romo" and is in the upper echelon of NFL QB's. This Lion's defense is actually respectable against the pass so if Cutler goes out there and keeps the Bears in the game with No INTs and a TD or two, you just might see him trending upward getting better and better as the year goes by. I'll just be happy he doesn't revert and become "Tony Romo" 2.0
4. No Turnovers
Jay Cutler has thrown a few interceptions, but if you take away the fluke play against Atlanta and the WR's who should make those catches, he has done a good job holding onto the ball. The offensive line will have two big tasks (Suh & Fairley) ahead of them and keeping Jay Cutler upright will be a challenge. With a good offensive decisions and a balanced attack, Cutler and the Bears will find success against this Lion's defense. But if Jay Cutler decides to go "Tony Romo" and throw pick sixes and hand the ball back to the Lion's, it's going to be a long Monday evening.
Last week the Bears put the load of the offense on Matt Forte's shoulders, and he delivered. And this man has yet to be paid. Jay Cutler signed a 2 year extension worth $30 million, but he has yet to have the 'lights out' game that brings him up to the next level. His footwork has been shaky, and over the last two weeks he has overthrown guys (some which led to an INT), and has missed very easy throws, missing a guy low or throwing to the wrong shoulder. This would be the perfect game for Cutler to show that he is not another "Tony Romo" and is in the upper echelon of NFL QB's. This Lion's defense is actually respectable against the pass so if Cutler goes out there and keeps the Bears in the game with No INTs and a TD or two, you just might see him trending upward getting better and better as the year goes by. I'll just be happy he doesn't revert and become "Tony Romo" 2.0
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