Three Ways Lions Offense Will Challenge Bears Defense

Detroit's offensive line has improved, the running game got better last year, and Matthew Stafford is healthy, so the Bears on defense know they will meet a challenge far more difficult than they saw last year.

When the Bears face the Detroit Lions it will be a case of strength vs. strength.

The Bears might bring one of the league's best defenses into the game, but Detroit offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell has a well-designed scheme, the Lions have put together a solid offensive line with a potentially effective backfield, and Matthew Stafford returns healthy with receiver Kenny Golladay and a strong receiver corps.

Even at their best, the Bears on defense in the dome against Stafford will be facing a difficult challenge.

There are three matchups in particular they need to be concerned with when Detroit's offense is on the field.

Stafford Throwing at Bears Right Defensive Side

Rookie cornerback Jaylon Johnson himself admitted he'll be a target and with Golladay or Marvin Jones Jr. lining up against him and Stafford throwing, there can be no doubt. It's the way of the NFL to test rookie cornerbacks. They'll bait him and definitely will try to throw deep to his side because often he'll have Tashaun Gipson lining up as his zone help in his first Bears game. The communication between a rookie and a player in his first game within a new system on a new team will need to be developed, so Detroit will pick at this. Because Golladay and Jones rank among the best four receivers league-wide at pulling down contested passes according to Pro Football Focus, the Bears can expect there will be times when even if the rush is effective Stafford will simply throw it up there in that direction. They need to be prepared for the jump ball situations because they've looked foolish several times in Detroit when this occurred in the past. The Bears' best bet for preventing big gains is having their pass rush off the edge in full gear with Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn. Stafford getting hit early is a good way to disrupt timing in the passing game and diminish the will to attack an inexperienced cornerback deep.

Lions Running to Right Side of Bears Defense

Kerryon Johnson will apparently be the starting running back again. The first Lions depth chart does not even list Georgia rookie D'Andre Swift in its top three backs. Recently signed Adrian Peterson is listed as their No. 2 behind Johnson. And they still have Ty Johnson on the roster as a third option who knows the offense. The Lions ran the ball better last year. They were 21st in yardage but 10th in yards per attempt, and the offensive line improvement had much to do with this.  Halapoulivaati Vaitai, also known as Big V, was a key free agency acquisition at right tackle and joins Taylor Decker, Joe Dahl, Frank Ragnow and Ohio State rookie Jonah Jackson. They aren't just a pass-blocking group for Stafford. The Bears' weakness is on their right defensive side because as good as Quinn has been rushing the passer, he has never been known as a dynamic run stopper. And apparently he's suffering from an ankle injury. Running to the right makes little sense because the Khalil Mack/Akiem Hicks combination makes success unlikely. Roquan Smith usually is lined up in position to aid those two on the right side. The easier side for Johnson and possibly Peterson to run is left for the offense, the Bears' right side, using stretches or counter plays. The Bears have to be prepared to defend this.

Detroit Tight Ends Testing Linebackers 

The Bears would prefer to cover Lions tight ends with Smith or Danny Trevathan but  zone coverage may dictate safeties. Either way, they need to come into this game focusing more on tight ends than before because Bevell always has had offenses with tight ends involved, and T.J. Hockenson is said to have had a tremendous camp in his second season. An injury helped limit him to 32 catches and 59 targets last year. The Lions also have former Steelers tight end Jesse James, who figures to get more chances than last year. Bevell likes getting the defense moving one way and then use tight ends coming across the grain. It's a dangerous situation for the Bears on defense considering how effective Detroit's receivers can be.

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