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Post by D6 on Dec 2, 2020 16:00:35 GMT -5
Detroit Lions are underdogs for road trip to face Chicago Bears in Week 13
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The turning point for the worst for the Bears Defense was the hamstring injury that Bears interior Defensive Lineman Akiem Hicks suffered in the 2nd half of the MNF game vs. the Vikings 16 days ago. The loss of Hicks combined with the season ending injury to Roy Robertson-Harris, and Eddie Goldman opting out in the summer, has taken it's toll on the Bears run Defense and pass rush. IMHO, Hicks is the best 2nd best player, only behind Khalil Mack.
From a Lions fan perspective, I much rather the Lions face Nick Foles ( even if he's relatively healthy ) than Mitchell Trubisky. The Bears running game is more effective with Trubisky because of the read option dimension Trubisky provides. Trubisky has much better overall physical skills. Trubisky's track record against the Lions is excellent. With the Lions problematic injury situation at CB, the last thing the Lions need is going against a QB that can extend plays.
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Post by frenchylions on Dec 3, 2020 12:57:04 GMT -5
beargoggleson.com/2020/12/03/comparing-jaylon-johnson-to-jeff-okudah-rookie-season/
It is difficult to compare 2 CBs playing different schemes / teams but there are some interesting stats in there.
Comparing player's stats in relation to their draft spot is unfair imo. A player doesn't choose his own spot, GMs do.
Jeff Okudah may have been picked too high, only time will tell. But in which world would that be his fault ?
Let's remember that the Bears have drafted Mitchell Trubisky with pick 2 in 2017 ... above Patrick Mahomes and DeShaun Watson 
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Post by D6 on Dec 3, 2020 18:42:54 GMT -5
PFT’s NFL Week 13 2020 picks
Lions (+3) at Bears
MDS’s take: The Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn era has ended, but what’s left behind is a very bad football team that’s going to take time to rebuild. At this point, the Lions will be doing the next coach and GM a favor by losing.
MDS’s pick: Bears 27, Lions 14.
Florio’s take: The interim coach artificial head coach bump is real, especially when coupled with a dash of ding dong the witch is dead.
Florio’s pick: Lions 20, Bears 17.
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The Lions probably will have a jolt of positive energy going into this game. Whether the Lions have enough talent, based on injuries for both teams, is a huge question mark?
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Post by D6 on Dec 3, 2020 22:43:25 GMT -5
beargoggleson.com/2020/12/03/comparing-jaylon-johnson-to-jeff-okudah-rookie-season/
It is difficult to compare 2 CBs playing different schemes / teams but there are some interesting stats in there.
Comparing player's stats in relation to their draft spot is unfair imo. A player doesn't choose his own spot, GMs do.
Jeff Okudah may have been picked too high, only time will tell. But in which world would that be his fault ?
Let's remember that the Bears have drafted Mitchell Trubisky with pick 2 in 2017 ... above Patrick Mahomes and DeShaun Watson ...... Frenchy, thanks for sharing the article and your thoughts.
IMHO, the two greatest obstacles for Jeff Okudah, compared to Jaylon Johnson, are Okudah missed a sizable portion of training camp with a hamstring injury. This on top of no off-season practices and no pre-season games.
The other obstacle is Okudah has been surrounded by a much weaker supporting cast. In most games, the Bears had Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Roquan Smith, Kyle Fuller, and Eddie Jackson as it's Defensive Foundation. All are Pro Bowl Caliber players. With some other good support players.
Unfortunately, Okudah is almost certainly going to miss both games vs. the Bears this season. As well as him missing the Texans game.
The bottom line is it's way too early to tell if Jeff Okudah is going to live up to his draft billing or come close. As well as which CB will have the better career.
Regarding the 1st Round QBs in the 2017 Draft, on top of what you mentioned, the Bears ( which had pick # 3 ) traded up with the SF 49ers, in order to secure Mitchell Trubisky's rights with pick # 2. The 49ers received a 4th Round pick in 2017 and a 3rd Round pick in 2018 as the trade compensation to move down one spot. |
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Post by D6 on Dec 4, 2020 13:52:32 GMT -5
Detroit News predictions: Lions at Bears
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At this time, I have doubts that the Lions will have enough available firepower to win this game unless the Lions are + 2 or better with takeaways vs turnovers and win the Special Teams battle.
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Post by D6 on Dec 5, 2020 20:01:49 GMT -5
Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: Dave Birkett's scouting report, prediction
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The availability and health of Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks probably will be the remaining key question marks that will determine whether the Lions have a realistic chance of pulling off an upset in Chicago tomorrow.
The interception by CB Kyle Fuller, that was caused by FS Eddie Jackson, with an assist from the Bears pass rush, was what set up the eventual game winning Bears TD in the season opener in Detroit. With the Lions being limited by injury on Offense, especially to the key two playmakers ), it's easy to envision the Bears having multiple takeaways tomorrow.
Much like with Mitchell Trubisky, Anthony Miller seems to have his best performances against the Lions. The sideline catch Miller made in the 4th QTR at Detroit in the 2020 opener, that contributed greatly to an eventual Bears TD, was as good of a reception I have seen in an NFL game this season.
Cordarralle Patterson is a differential deluxe Kickoff Returner but he's not likely to be used as a Punt Returner if history is repeated.
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Post by D6 on Dec 5, 2020 20:18:55 GMT -5
Detroit News scouting report: Lions at Bears
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Unless the knee injury Allen Robinson suffered in practice on Friday proves worse than what Matt Nagy anticipated ( publicly ), he will be a challenge for Amani Oruwariye and other Lions Defenders that are in his vicinity. Robinson's consistency catching the ball is a stat category that's attention getting.
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Post by D6 on Dec 5, 2020 20:43:15 GMT -5
Behind Enemy Lines: Breaking down the Chicago matchup with Bears Wire
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Prior to the hamstring injury to Akiem Hicks in the 2nd half of the MNF game against Vikings, Roquan Smith looked like he was having the best game on either team that night. Smith was a force in all facets of Defensive play for most of that game.
The loss if Hicks probably was by far the # 1 factor in the Vikings eventually winning that game and Smith having his worst game of the season this past Sunday Night in Green Bay. As good of a player as Smith is ( I wish the Lions had a LB even close to his level ), the value of Hicks and Khalil Mack is immense.
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Post by D6 on Dec 5, 2020 20:58:44 GMT -5
Behind Enemy Lines: 6 questions with Lions Wire
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Though not all the pressures were against Tyrell Crosby, Khalil Mack was disrupting the Lions Offense in the 4th QTR of the Bears comeback win over the Lions in the season opener. Not only as a pass rusher was Mack being a differential factor. His run Defense helped put the Lions in unfavorable down and distance situations. Mack is a HOF caliber player. As many splash plays that Mack makes, he also makes many plays that don't show up on the stat sheet. Related to that is necessary to often provide help against Mack.
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Post by D6 on Dec 5, 2020 21:16:36 GMT -5
4 reasons for optimism as Bears face the Lions in Week 13
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Like I expressed earlier this week, David Montgomery and the overall Bears running game is much better with Mitchell Trubisky at QB than with Nick Foles. The discipline needed on the edge against Trubisky, both against the run and as a pass rusher, is far greater than against Foles.
Against the pass, overall contain against Trubisky needs to be stressed over and over. Using a spy on Trubisky much of the time is a strategy that I hope the Lions use. That could help Romeo Okwara and Everson Griffen use a greater variety of pass rush moves to get to Trubisky. This would be one way of the Lions Defense being proactive against the Bears Offense.
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Post by D6 on Dec 6, 2020 5:40:48 GMT -5
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Post by D6 on Dec 6, 2020 5:49:13 GMT -5
NFL Week 13 game picks, schedule guide, fantasy football tips, odds, injuries and more
Lions (4-7) at Bears (5-6)
1 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 20.0 | Spread: CHI -3 (44.5)
What to watch for: Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky's time in Chicago is nearing an end, but he does usually light up the hapless Lions. In six career appearances versus Detroit, Trubisky has passed for 1,601 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions (106.0 quarterback rating), including four consecutive games with at least three touchdowns and a passer rating over 100.0. Trubisky threw for three fourth-quarter scores to lead Chicago to that improbable comeback victory at Ford Field in Week 1. -- Jeff Dickerson
Bold prediction: Darrell Bevell will win his debut as the interim Detroit Lions coach as the team gets a bump from a new, changed voice. In that victory, Matthew Stafford will look like the quarterback he was in 2019, throwing for more than 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the team's most complete offensive showing of the season. -- Michael Rothstein
Stat to know: The Lions are one of four teams this season without a win in a divisional game (Chargers, Jets and Bengals). In fact, they have lost nine straight divisional games, currently tied for the longest active such losing streak in the NFL (Chargers).
Injuries: Lions | Bears
What to know for fantasy: Desperate for a fantasy QB? The Bears have won each of the past four meetings with the Lions, and Trubisky has thrown three touchdown passes in each one of those games (26.0 fantasy points per game in those matchups). See Week 13 rankings.
Betting nugget: Detroit is 1-11 outright and 3-9 ATS in its past 12 division games. Read more.
Rothstein's pick: Lions 35, Bears 21
Dickerson's pick: Bears 23, Lions 21
FPI prediction: CHI, 61.1% (by an average of 3.8 points)
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I'm definitely not counting on the Lions scoring 35 points AND winning the game. Let alone by 14 points.
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Post by D6 on Dec 6, 2020 11:49:04 GMT -5
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My prediction is Bears 24, Lions 13. Based on the players available for this game ( not injuries or re-injuries that can occur in the game ), the Lions have an uphill battle to even have a realistic chance at a win when the final 2 minutes of the game occur.
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Post by frenchylions on Dec 6, 2020 12:25:42 GMT -5
Unfortunately, I can only plus your prediction. The psychological boost will probably not be enough.
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Post by D6 on Dec 7, 2020 2:24:47 GMT -5
I'm pleasantly surprised we were both incorrect!
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