Keys to the Game
Lions
- Don’t Get Cute (at least at first)
As we sit here near the conclusion of the 2024 season, the Lions are a much better football team than the Bears. They are much better coached, possess a real, positive locker room culture, and know how to win. Despite all of the injuries, there is a reason Detroit comes into this game at 7-point favorites. They’ve won 11 of their last 12 games, while Chicago has dropped 8 straight.
While the Lions are getting hit hard by the injury bug, one position group remains perfectly in tact: the offensive line. Detroit’s team was built by general manager Brad Holmes from the inside out, the way it’s supposed to be done (the Bears have taken an alternative route). This means that before indulging in flashy skill position players (Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams, etc.), Holmes focused on the lines- specifically the offensive line- to ensure that the team wouldn’t lose in the trenches. Today, Detroit dominates opponents every week with the best offensive line in the NFL. The unit paves massive gaps for the running backs and grants immobile quarterback Jared Goff comfort in the pocket and time for OC Ben Johnson’s creative routes to develop downfield.
All of this it to say, the offensive line is the most important position group on the team. Since it is healthy, the Lions should win easily. In these 2 teams’ first meeting, Chicago nearly pulled of a surprising Thanksgiving upset. After an ultra-efficient first half, Detroit strayed away from running back Jahmyr Gibbs as punishment for a fumble. The Bears slowly chipped away, and were in position to send the game to overtime. Detroit needs to take Chicago seriously to prevent something like that from happening again. However, as long as it plays within itself and leans on that offensive line, Detroit will come out of Chicago with a comfortable and dominant win.
Bears
- Limit Jahmyr Gibbs
Rendering Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs unproductive would give Chicago a chance in this game. All year long, Detroit’s offense has thrived because it can move the ball in any way. The two-headed-monster at running back of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery has been a key driver of the Lions’ success by moving the ball efficiently and opening up the passing game for Jared Goff. With Montgomery out due to injury this week, Gibbs will be forced to take on a heavier workload.
The reason Gibbs is a key factor for Chicago is that he’s been so good recently. The second-year running back has 6 touchdowns in his last 5 games. In addition to rushing the football, he has been major threat in the passing game, racking up 11 catches and 2 receiving touchdowns in just his past 2 games. In addition, Gibbs went off against the Bears in their first matchup of the season, accumulating 87 yards on only 9 carries. If he is able to rush with that type of efficiency again, Chicago has no chance to pull off the upset.