Bears Hoping to Imitate Lions' Turnaround

On one hand, the Bears see the Detroit Lions and have respect but they also have plenty of envy.

They'd like to think they are on the same path the Lions took and just not there yet. Whether they are will take time to discover.

"I mean, I think you kind of look at that model and obviously you want to follow that trajectory and you get going," Bears tight end Cole Kmet said. "They kind of had a rough start to their season last year and they really got clicking towards the end of the year and it's grown into this year, as well.

"Yeah, you definitely look at that type of stuff but our mindset kind of with what they've shown so far is it's a really good team and a good opportunity for us on Sunday."

The Bears seem to be more than a year behind where the Lions are when their own offense is hit or miss and Detroit's is a well-oiled machine, and was sharp last year when the Lions began their run to respectability by nearly making the playoffs.

The Lions defense gives up plenty of points occasionally, and at other times has bordered on dominant.

Much of what they do well revolves around defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who had 1 1/2 sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception against the Bears as a rookie last year in two Lions wins.

"I mean, he's a little twitchier, faster," Kmet said. "That's probably because he knows what he's doing more—a little more confident in his game. I think that happens with everybody but you can definitely see it on tape.

"He's definitely taken his game to the next level when you compare it to last year. He's definitely come a long way for sure."

There are plenty of problems when facing the Lions, most of them are offense, though. Here are Lions who can five the Bears problems.

1. QB Jared Goff

He always seem out of the discussion when the league's best passers are discussed but in the last two seasons he has hit an elite level. His passer ratings of 99.3 last year and 99.1 this season are the best back-to-back efforts he's had since 100.5 and 101.1 when he took the Rams to the Super Bowl. His 14 touchdown passes have gone to six different receivers. He's the type of passer who can't be left to stand in the pocket to pick apart the secondary, because he will. The Bears have run into a few of those this year, chiefly Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Kirk Cousins.

2. RB Jahymr Gibbs

David Montgomery gets plenty of the attention but Gibbs has been a big-play back because of his speed and ability to elude tacklers. The rookie averages 5.3 yards a carry running behind a dominant run-blocking line.

'Yeah just the explosiveness, the same thing that we saw when he was coming out," Bears coach Matt Eberflus said when asked about Gibbs. "We all went down there and visited with him and we certainly, you know, really like his tape when he was coming out, the explosiveness that he brings you know in the screen game, in the run game, the cutback ability, the ability to circle your defense and bounce it outside so I would say that."

The 5-foot-9, 200-pound back had 152 yards rushing against the Raiders.

3. DE Aidan Hutchinson

Second in voting last year for defensive rookie of the year, his 4 1/2 sacks this year doesn't sound totally dominant. The 6-7, 268-pounder already has 32 pressure this season, two more than he had for all of 2022. He's going to get tested by a better right tackle this year against the Bears than he faced last season as Darnell Wright will line up against him. Wright has allowed five sacks but has been an effective run blocker throughout much of the season.

4. T Penei Sewell

The Lions are well equipped to handle Montez Sweat as the 6-foot-5, 335-pound Sewell is the second-rated tackle in the league according to Pro Football Focus, trailing only Christian Darrisaw. Sewell, whose brother is Bears linebacker Noah, has not allowed a sack after giving up just two last year.

5. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown

Equanimeous St. Browns' brother is playing at an even higher level than his first two years, and those were pretty good. With 65 catches already for 821 yards, he is on pace for better production even than last year's 106 catches for 1,161 yards. The 6-foot, 202-pounder with 4.51-second speed always seems to be open and could draw coverage all over the field from Jaylon Johnson, but normally would be expected to match up with Kyler Gordon in the slot. Gordon is coming off a strong game against Carolina.

6. RB David Montgomery

The former Bears running back is averaging a career-high 4.7 yards per rush. The fact he is averaging 0.7 yards a carry better than with the Bears can be attributed to the Lions' dominant line, led by Sewell and center Frank Ragnow. Montgomery has seven TDs rushing and still leads them in rushing yards with 503 despite missing three games with an injury.

7. TE Sam LaPorta

Their rookie find who has been piling up catches and yards to make Detroit forget about T.J. Hockenson. LaPorta does it with speed and both route running and an ability to read soft spots in coverage. He's 6-3, 245 and more of an U-tight end type who can go downfield. He has 47 catches for 474 yards

8. DT Alim McNeill

A surprise player to step up this much, the 6-2, 315-pounder is graded fifth among defensive line interior players by PFF. He's fourth against the run, something the Lions badly needed on the interior of their line. The third-round pick from North Carolina State has four sacks, seven QB hits and five tackles for loss in plugging up Detroit's leaking middle.

9. CB Jerry Jacobs

In his third year, Jacobs has consistently improved throughout his career and this year has been effective enough at breaking up passes that he has a 69.1 passer rating against when targeted despite allowing three TD catches when targeted. The undrafted 5-11, 203-pound undrafted player leads the Lions with three interceptions

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