Primetime Pigskin - Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions Preview

[vegasjack2]

Primetime Pigskin - Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions Preview

By: VegasJack

The Detroit Lions are 4-0 and The Motor City is throwing them a Monday Night party. The guest of honor, long time NFC North rival...Chicago Bears. The unbeaten Lions are averaging an astounding 34 points per game and . stand a win away from their best start since 1956. Tonight’s show-down in mo-town is going to be nothing short of electric.

In their first primetime game since 2001, the Lions attempt to continue their staggering 12 game winning streak against the point spread. Detroit has been a bettor’s best friend cashing in consecutive weeks since Thanksgiving of last year.

Matt Stafford and company will be front and center tonight. The prolific Detroit passing attack that showcases superstar Calvin Johnson presents an enormous mismatch for the Bears secondary that ranks 29th against the pass. Through Week Four Detroit is averaging 376 yards of offense per game. What is even more remarkable is the fact they have done most of their damage on the road. The Lions have put up gaudy offensive numbers against formidable opponents away from Ford Field. Detroit has hung 26, 27 and 34 points on the score board in Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Dallas. In their one home contest this season, they steam rolled Kansas City 48-3.

The Lions have shown an uncanny ability to repeat exceptional offensive performances in consecutive weeks. In the past four games when Detroit has scored 28 points or more, they have duplicated the performance by matching or exceeding their total in the next week. Of those four repeat performances, all were Lion victories. This may be bad news for the Bears defensive unit which came within ten yards of the franchise record for defensive futility in a game. Last week the Chicago defense gave up 542 total yards.

Unlike the Lions, the Bears have bad games in two’s. In the next game after giving up more than 275 yards passing, the Bears are just 5-13 ATS. In the last five games after conceding 150 or more yards on the ground, Chicago is just 1-4 in the next game following both straight up and against the spread.

So far this season the Bears have allowed their quarterback to be hit an NFL leading 52 times. Last week Cutler looked inept under center. Cutler was 9/17 for just 102 yards with an INT. This may be a blessing in disguise for the Bears as Cutler historically rebounds from a poor outing. In Cutler’s past six starts following a game where he threw for less than 150 yards, he has won five times. They must also establish their resurging running game. Currently running back Matt Forte is the hottest running back in the league. Last week Forte went for 205 yards on the ground and joined the illustrious Walter Payton and Gail Sayers as the only running backs to rush for 200+ yards in a game in Bears history.

But, Detroit has yet to allow a 100 yard rusher this season and Chicago has rushed for at least 100 yards in 8 of their last 10 against the Lions. Dating back to the start of the 2002 season.

Here are a few trends to follow in the game tonight.

The Bears have not covered a game in October in nearly two years. The Lions have covered five in a row.

These two teams have produced high scoring games recently. In the past five meetings at Ford Field, four have gone over the total.

Coming off a straight up victory, the Lions have forced the score over the total in 13 of their last 15.

Using my Trench Index, the Lions hold a slight edge on the O-Line (24th vs 25th) and on D-Line (16th vs 19th).

-VJ

[jd95]

Thnx 4 the writeup vj