The Bears will be trying to break out of an offensive rut in Thomas Brown’s two games as interim coach — an average of 12.5 points, 223 yards and 3.9 yards per play (after averaging 22 points, 363 yards and 5.5 yards per play in his three games as offensive coordinator).
They figure to have an opportunity against a Lions defense that still ranks seventh in the NFL in points allowed but has been wracked by injuries. The Lions have 16 defensive players on injured reserve — including six Week 1 starters — after defensive tackle Alim McNeil and cornerback Carlton Davis were put on IR after the loss to the Bills last week.
If anything, the opportunity against a weakened defense should help the Bears focus on establishing the run after the Bills rushed for 197 yards (5.8 average) and four touchdowns in a 48-42 victory at Ford Field. Running back Roschon Johnson returns after missing the last two games with a concussion. He complements ex-Lion D’Andre Swift, who’s averaging 52.4 yards per game (3.6 average) but rushed for 79 yards on 19 carries against the Vikings on Monday night.
The X-factor is the offensive line, per usual. Left tackle Braxton Jones (concussion) and left guard Teven Jenkins (calf) are questionable, though Brown was “optimistic” Jones could play. Brown did not indicate who would start if Jones and/or Jenkins can’t play. But the Bears are vulnerable regardless.
Bear weather (ugh!) — particularly the outdoor environs of Soldier Field in December — might be the Bears’ strong suit against a Lions offense that leads the NFL in scoring (32.8 points per game) and has averaged 36.1 points in its last 11 games. Jared Goff is 0-2 at Soldier Field in December, with passer ratings of 19.1 in 2018 (no touchdowns, four interceptions in a 15-6 loss with the Rams) and 54.6 last season (one touchdown, two interceptions in a 28-13 loss with the Lions).
But both performances came against Bears defenses that were at the top (2018) or trending up (last year). This Bears defense is faltering — last in the NFL in points allowed (27.0) and 30th in yards allowed (383.1) since the Hail Mary.
Goff, the former No. 1 overall draft pick, is a better quarterback in a better offense this year. But in their one outdoor game in the Midwest — against the Packers at Lambeau Field in 50-degree weather on Nov. 10 — the Lions were held to 17 offensive points and 261 yards in a 24-14 victory.
The Lions’ offense starts with the run, which could be challenging without former Bear David Montgomery (55.4 yards per game, 4.2 yards per carry), who suffered a potential season-ending knee injury last week. Then again, the way the Lions are going, that could just further unleash the more dangerous Jahmyr Gibbs (74.8 yards per game, 5.6 yards per carry), who had nine carries for 87 yards against the Bears on Thanksgiving Day.
