Bears Look to Further Tame Lions
By Staff in News on Dec 5, 2010 2:30PM
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
By: Angie Wiatrowski
The Chicago Bears are in the front seat of the NFC north heading into the season’s final month, bringing a spotless division record heading into Sunday’s matchup versus the Detroit Lions. Who would have thought?
The "Monsters of the Midway" are coming off what is their best performance of the year against Philadelphia. Chicago hopes to build off that and take advantage of Detroit’s woes in the quarterback position.
The Bears are expected to move a notch further down the Lions' depth chart and face third-string quarterback Drew Stanton after Shaun Hill broke the index finger of his throwing hand. Lions QB Matthew Stafford is already down with a shoulder injury from a sack courtesy of our own Julius Peppers. This is the second time in three weeks that the Bears will take on a third-string QB. Detroit’s struggles have become apparent, securing their 10th consecutive losing season and having dropped four in a row after New England feasted on the Lions 45-24 Thanksgiving day.
This Bears team seems to have finally started turning heads. Despite winning seven of their first ten games this season, it was difficult selling themselves as a serious playoff contender. They haven’t reached the postseason since the 2006 Super Bowl, but with their solid defense in play they’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The Bears will be without linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa for a third straight game however, giving Nick Roach the start. The veteran strong-side linebacker was unable to fully practice on Friday. Tinoisamoa missed most of last season with two knee injuries. This will be a small dent in any difficulties the Bears roster may have to deal with Sunday, as Detroit may also be without defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who missed his fourth day of practice with a neck injury.
The Bears should have this in the bag; history bears this out. They lead the all-time series with Detroit 92-64-5. They have also won the last five matchups against their rivals. With their solid defensive line and offensive improvement (they handed Michael Vick four sacks while holding one of the NFL’s best rushing offenses to nearly 50 yards below its average last week) Sunday should shape up to be another exciting victory.