Pride of Detroit
The Detroit Lions (8-8) and Chicago Bears (11-5) will square off in a Week 18 NFC North battle to close out the regular season. Because the Lions and Bears have already played this season, this week’s Honolulu Blueprint will look a bit different. Instead of starting from scratch, we will revisit the keys to victory from Week 2, examine what worked and what didn’t, then identify what the Lions need to adjust in Week 18.
If the Lions want to end their season on a positive note, they’ll need to follow the keys to victory laid out in this week’s Honolulu Blueprint.
For a detailed look at the opposing scheme, make sure you check out our complementary breakdown piece: Lions (from Week 2) Preview: Breaking down Bears’ offensive and defensive schemes.
Lions coach Dan Campbell on how the Bears have changed since Week 2:
“They’re more polished. They’re a better team. Really, since that time, they have led the league in takeaways on defense. I mean, they’re getting them. It’s like we talk about, it’s contagious for them. Those guys are getting them in a good way. Got one the other night. Once again, it turned into a touchdown. And it’s much more sound. (Bears Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen) D.A.’s got his system in, and it’s grown and developed. And they’re keeping teams out of the end zone, keeping the offense ahead; that’s what you’ve got to do on defense, get the takeaways. That’s big.
“And then offensively, they’re more polished. (Bears Head Coach) Ben (Johnson)’s done a good job. The system is in, and these little things that were there in Game 2, Game 1, they’ve begun to go away. They’ve got a run game. They’ve found a run game, play-action pass, (Bears QB) Caleb (Williams)’s playing really well, O-line’s playing really well. Got a run game, (Bears RB D’Andre) Swift’s running well. (Bears RB Kyle Monangai) 25, he’s a downhill, hard runner too. Tight end’s playing good, both of them – really all three of them. So, they’re playing at a high level. They’re doing things well. Much more polished.”
Did it work?
Yes. After a dud in Week 1, the Lions rebounded with 177 rushing yards, including 94 from Jahmyr Gibbs on just 12 carries. Both Gibbs and David Montgomery scored touchdowns on the ground.
What’s changed?
The Lions’ rushing attack has fallen off a cliff, and they’ve run for just 153 yards in the past three games combined. Per Next Gen Stats, “Gibbs has gained negative rushing yards before contact in each game during the Lions’ current three-game losing streak.”
Hee’s Lions offensive coordinator John Morton with more on the Lions’ recent rushing struggles:
“Yeah, it’s been difficult because then you become a passing offense, which we can do that, but you don’t want to live on that. So, it’s been a work...
