Lions at Bears
▶ Kickoff: 1 p.m. Sunday, Soldier Field, Chicago
▶ TV/radio: Fox/97.1 FM
▶ Records: Bears (3-6), Lions (2-6)
▶ Line: Bears by 3
Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News breaks down the Lions’ Week 10 matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Key matchup
LIONS FRONT 7 VS. CHICAGO’S RUN GAME
The Detroit Lions have struggled against running quarterbacks, as well as running backs, so far this year. As safeties coach Brian Duker pointed out this week, Detroit has seen Jalen Hurts, Geno Smith and a few other mobile quarterbacks this season, but they still haven’t seen a quarterback that runs it the way second-year Chicago quarterback Justin Fields does. And even if he doesn’t get a majority of the responsibility carrying the ball, they’ve still got a one-two punch at running back that’s given Chicago the highest average rushing total in the league and has the potential to make a shaky Detroit run defense — which has made strides since returning from the bye — prove that they’ve turned a corner for real.
Bears to watch
QB Justin Fields: Fields is coming off a record-setting performance last weekend against the Dolphins; he became the first player in NFL history to rush for 150 yards, throw three touchdown passes and rush for a touchdown. Fields has found his groove over the last month or so, turning this matchup from a winnable game into a coin flip. What Fields showed on tape last week has to make the Lions nervous, given that they’ve had so much trouble overpursuing quarterbacks and tracking them down once they leave the pocket.
WR Chase Claypool: The addition of Claypool, whom the Bears acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers at the trade deadline, adds another element to Chicago’s offense. Fields can chuck it, too, and Claypool is the big-bodied outside receiver that the Bears needed to open that part of the young quarterback’s game. Claypool’s Bears career got off to a slow start — he turned six targets into two catches and 13 yards a week ago — so expect Chicago to make his involvement a point of emphasis this Sunday.
S Eddie Jackson: Since the last time Detroit and Chicago played, the Bears have traded away several pieces in their front seven: linebackers Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith, plus defensive end Robert Quinn have all been dealt elsewhere. But Eddie Jackson remains, and for that reason, the Chicago secondary is as dangerous as ever. He has three interceptions this season and two forced fumbles, and with his track record against the Lions — two career interceptions and a touchdown — will be a major threat to the success of Jared Goff and Detroit’s passing game.
Facts and figures
▶ The Lions haven’t beaten the Bears without Matthew Stafford since Week 8 of the 2007 season. Jon Kitna passed for 268 yards and Kevin Jones ran for 105 in a 16-7 win at Soldier Field that would push the Lions to 5-2 on the season. Surely, they made the playoffs that year, right? Wrong. It would take the Lions 46 games to find their next five wins.
▶ Rookie safety Kerby Joseph played so well against the Packers last week, that even leaving early with a head and neck injury wasn’t enough to stop him from being named NFC Defensive Player of the Week: He had 10 tackles (five solo), three passes defended and two interceptions, which also brings about some historical significance. He became the sixth safety in NFL history and first since 2009 with that stat line and is just the third rookie safety ever behind Jairus Byrd and Ed Reed — ever heard of ’em? — to have three pass defenses and two interceptions in the same game.
▶ So much for a loaded wide receiver room, huh? Injuries to DJ Chark, Josh Reynolds and Quintez Cephus, plus the extended rehab time of rookie receiver Jameson Williams, have handcuffed a Lions offense that was shot out of a cannon in its first few weeks. But they’ve gotten quite a bit of production out from the bargain bin so far this year. Players who originally joined the league as undrafted free agents have accounted for 43 receptions — about 25% of Jared Goff’s completions.
Twitter: @nolanbianchi
nbianchi@detroitnews.com