Ben Johnson faces his former team as Caleb Williams chases franchise records. Can the Bears disrupt Detroit's offense and secure a crucial win?
First-year Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson gets another shot at the Detroit Lions in Week 18.
Week 2 was the first time Johnson had been back in Detroit since accepting the head coaching job in Chicago. Johnson was the offensive coordinator for the Lions on Dan Campbell's staff from 2022-24.
The Week 2 meeting didn't end well for the Bears, as Johnson and his team were defeated 52-21 at Ford Field.
All eyes are on Caleb Williams as he chases some franchise records in Week 18. He can become the Bears' record holder for most passing yards, touchdowns, and the first 4,000-yard passer in franchise history.
Williams needs to throw for 109 passing yards and five touchdowns to surpass the record set by Erik Kramer in 1995. He can eclipse the 4,000-yard mark with 270 passing yards on Sunday. Kramer had 3,838 passing yards and 29 touchdowns that season, and Williams had 3,730 and 25.
At the end of the day, the quarterback has said he's more focused on winning the game, and that's what the Bears should do too.
Here's how I think the Bears can end the regular season with a win over the Lions:
Don't Sleep on Lions' Offense
Much like with the San Francisco 49ers, the Lions know how to score.
Detroit put up 52 points on Chicago in the first meeting, so the Bears need to be prepared for some offensive fireworks. On top of that, the Bears have struggled to stop teams all season.
In Week 2, the Bears went into halftime down 28-14 and things got out of hand in the second half. Chicago didn't score again in that game until the fourth quarter.
The Bears can't afford to be down multiple scores like that with an offense like Detroit's.
Take Advantage of Injured O-Line
The Lions were obliterated by the Minnesota Vikings' pass rush in Week 17.
Jared Goff was sacked five times and had the same number of total turnovers. Goff threw two interceptions and lost three fumbles in the 23-10 loss to the Vikings.
Chicago can't just let the quarterback sit back and have time to throw. With how injured the Lions' offensive line is, the Bears need to capitalize and put the pressure on Goff.
Bears Can't Settle for Field Goals
The Bears were able to keep up with the high-powered offense of the 49ers in Week 17 for the most part.
However, in the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 35, the Bears opted to kick a field goal, which proved costly. The Bears got inside the red zone and decided to pass three plays in a row instead of leaning on the running game in that situation.
The 49ers went down and scored a touchdown on their next drive, putting the Bears in a tough spot late in the game.
After the game, Johnson shared was his biggest regret from the loss.
Points are at a premium in this game, and the Bears can't rely on field goals to beat a team like the Lions.