Post by JABF on Dec 9, 2016 9:43:33 GMT -6
Interesting angle from a Detroit sports writer's point of view. It seems like forever since our Bears defense could put some fear into opposing teams. It feels pretty good to see our D coming back.
LINK
O'HARA'S FRIDAY FOCUS:
Bears' defense can cause problems
It’s the eternal, mental debate -- which road to choose when a golden opportunity arrives. Voices of caution and experience whisper memories of failure caused by being blinded by rampant overconfidence.
We are back in the mind game again in Sunday’s rematch of old rivals – the Detroit Lions at home against the Chicago Bears. The first-place Lions are surging toward a possible NFC North title against a Bears team heading nowhere in a season of injuries and disappointment.
Pawn the silver? Take the hammer to the kids’ college-fund cookie jar? Again?
It’s enticing to go all in on picking the Lions. They are solid favorites with an 8-4 record and riding a four-game winning streak. The Bears are 3-9.
So slam the accelerator to the floor with visions of a Godfather Lock from yesteryear?
Or do the brake lights come on with memories, both recent and past, of when the Bears blocked the Lions’ path?
Such as Game 4 of this year – a 17-14 win for the Bears at Soldier Field that gave the Lions their third straight loss and a 1-3 record that put their season on the brink of failure.
Or the final game of 2000, when the Lions needed a win to clinch a playoff berth. With everything going their way – home-field advantage at the Silverdome, and an early 10-0 lead – the Lions lost on a final-play field goal.
With scars of past defeats comes a reality check – and reality checks never bounce. In the debate process, add caution from the wisdom of Lions safety Glover Quin on why not to take any team lightly.
“Like I said all the time, we were the Bears last year,” Quin said, reflecting on how the Lions of 2015 got to 3-7 after a 1-7 start. “We’ve been there. You don’t take teams for granted. These guys are NFL players.
“Like I said earlier, this is a division game. Records get thrown out the window. This is a tough game.”
A tough choice, with so much to consider.
Lions-Bears breakdown: If the Bears beat the Lions once, they can do it twice. It shouldn’t happen, but it can. Some raw stats favor the Bears.
On offense, the Bears rank 16th in yards gained. The Lions are 21st.
The Bears have a young running back in rookie Jordan Howard who has gone over the 100-yard mark five times in nine games, starting with a 111-yard effort against the Lions in Game 4.
The Lions’ top runner, Ameer Abdullah, has been out since the first half of Week 2. As a team, the Lions have gone the last 10 games without rushing for 100 yards.
On defense, the Bears rank seventh in yards allowed. The Lions are tied for 15th.
None of that makes the Lions look like a lock.
Prediction: But there are other stats and matchups. The biggest stat is the won-loss column. The Lions are 8-4 for a reason. The Bears are 3-9 for a reason.
The Lions have allowed 20.9 points per game but only 16.6 in the last six games. The Bears have given up 22.5 per game and 21.1 in the last six.
Lions QB Matthew Stafford is a top 5 candidate for the MVP Award.
Matt Barkley is the third QB to start for the Bears this year. He has two career starts, both this year, with a 1-1 record.
I like the Lions to win this game, but experience says read the caution signs.
Lions 26, Bears 19.
Series history: The Bears have a 96-71 lead. The teams have played seven ties. The Bears’ 17-14 win in Week 4 at Soldier Field ended the Lions’ six-game winning streak against the Bears.
O'HARA'S FRIDAY FOCUS:
Bears' defense can cause problems
It’s the eternal, mental debate -- which road to choose when a golden opportunity arrives. Voices of caution and experience whisper memories of failure caused by being blinded by rampant overconfidence.
We are back in the mind game again in Sunday’s rematch of old rivals – the Detroit Lions at home against the Chicago Bears. The first-place Lions are surging toward a possible NFC North title against a Bears team heading nowhere in a season of injuries and disappointment.
Pawn the silver? Take the hammer to the kids’ college-fund cookie jar? Again?
It’s enticing to go all in on picking the Lions. They are solid favorites with an 8-4 record and riding a four-game winning streak. The Bears are 3-9.
So slam the accelerator to the floor with visions of a Godfather Lock from yesteryear?
Or do the brake lights come on with memories, both recent and past, of when the Bears blocked the Lions’ path?
Such as Game 4 of this year – a 17-14 win for the Bears at Soldier Field that gave the Lions their third straight loss and a 1-3 record that put their season on the brink of failure.
Or the final game of 2000, when the Lions needed a win to clinch a playoff berth. With everything going their way – home-field advantage at the Silverdome, and an early 10-0 lead – the Lions lost on a final-play field goal.
With scars of past defeats comes a reality check – and reality checks never bounce. In the debate process, add caution from the wisdom of Lions safety Glover Quin on why not to take any team lightly.
“Like I said all the time, we were the Bears last year,” Quin said, reflecting on how the Lions of 2015 got to 3-7 after a 1-7 start. “We’ve been there. You don’t take teams for granted. These guys are NFL players.
“Like I said earlier, this is a division game. Records get thrown out the window. This is a tough game.”
A tough choice, with so much to consider.
Lions-Bears breakdown: If the Bears beat the Lions once, they can do it twice. It shouldn’t happen, but it can. Some raw stats favor the Bears.
On offense, the Bears rank 16th in yards gained. The Lions are 21st.
The Bears have a young running back in rookie Jordan Howard who has gone over the 100-yard mark five times in nine games, starting with a 111-yard effort against the Lions in Game 4.
The Lions’ top runner, Ameer Abdullah, has been out since the first half of Week 2. As a team, the Lions have gone the last 10 games without rushing for 100 yards.
On defense, the Bears rank seventh in yards allowed. The Lions are tied for 15th.
None of that makes the Lions look like a lock.
Prediction: But there are other stats and matchups. The biggest stat is the won-loss column. The Lions are 8-4 for a reason. The Bears are 3-9 for a reason.
The Lions have allowed 20.9 points per game but only 16.6 in the last six games. The Bears have given up 22.5 per game and 21.1 in the last six.
Lions QB Matthew Stafford is a top 5 candidate for the MVP Award.
Matt Barkley is the third QB to start for the Bears this year. He has two career starts, both this year, with a 1-1 record.
I like the Lions to win this game, but experience says read the caution signs.
Lions 26, Bears 19.
Series history: The Bears have a 96-71 lead. The teams have played seven ties. The Bears’ 17-14 win in Week 4 at Soldier Field ended the Lions’ six-game winning streak against the Bears.
