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Detroit Lions Face Must-Win Situation vs. Chicago Bears In Thanksgiving Day Matchup

By @MWCompton

Matthew Stafford Lions

Tim Fuller-USA Today Sports

The Detroit Lions will look to reignite a reeling and injury-riddled offense when they take to Ford Field for a Thanksgiving matchup against the Chicago Bears. The up-and-down Lions (7-4), losers of two straight, must get a win against the Bears (5-6) to keep pace with the Green Bay Packers, who sit atop the competitive NFC North. The visitors are 8-7 in Detroit on Thanksgiving but haven’t played there since a 21-17 loss in 1999.

Surprisingly, the Lions’ offense hasn’t possessed much of a roar this season. Designed around quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson, the unit has been nagged by injuries. Johnson has been hobbled by an ankle injury, missing three games, and running back Reggie Bush has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. As a result, the Lions rank 28th in points per game (17.9) and 21st in yards (332.5) without their playmakers at 100 percent. Facing a Bears defense that ranks 28th in the league against the pass, yielding 260.5 yards per game and is 30th in points allowed (27.5), the Lions should get over their ills in a hurry on Thursday.

To turn things around, however, Stafford may have to get rid of the ball a little quicker as the Lions’ offensive line might be without starting left tackle Riley Reiff. Injured in last week’s loss to the New England Patriots, Reiff didn’t practice on Tuesday and his status for the game is in doubt. If Reiff is unable to play, undrafted rookie Cornelius Lucas is likely to get the start in his place.

Big plays were expected to be frequent in an offense built around elite players at the skill positions, but they haven’t materialized on the field. Stafford, who owns an undeniably strong arm, was just 18-of-46 last week against the Patriots, and he has only two 300-yard games this season — he had six last year. Stafford has struggled mightily of late, throwing six of his 10 interceptions in the last five games. He hasn’t recorded a touchdown pass in the last two games and will need to halt that streak against the Bears to avoid going three straight games without a touchdown for the first time in his career.

A bright spot on the offense this season has been the play of wide receiver Golden Tate. In his first year with the Lions, following four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Tate is the Lions’ leading receiver. He boasts 72 receptions for 1,047 yards (both career highs) and three touchdowns. He’s tough, has reliable hands and is a perfect complement to Johnson.

While the Lions have struggled offensively in recent weeks, Detroit’s defense is tops in the NFL. The unit allows just 17.3 points per game, the fewest in the league, and 70.7 yards per game on the ground, also a league-best. Like the Lions, the Bears have plenty of offensive weapons of their own, but they have also underperformed this season. Jay Cutler and company could be in for a long afternoon against a stingy and dominant Lions D led by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

The Lions will be on tilt to make a statement after losing two straight games on the road. They simply didn’t measure up to the Arizona Cardinals or the Patriots, but they have an opportunity to redeem themselves at home against a division rival. It was a well-timed short week for the road-weary Lions, who should carve out a victory over the Bears for the home crowd on Thanksgiving.

Michael Compton is a Jacksonville Jaguars writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter at @MWCompton and connect with him on Google.

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