The Lions are bad, really bad. With Kevin Jones now out for the year, they do not have a legit running attack, and John Kitna will be at the helm of the Lions passing game. They have some decent options at wideout, Roy Williams and Mike Furrey, but the lack of a running game will allow for the Bears to key in on the pass. I anticipate the Bears sending some timely blitzes to disrupt Kitna’s rhythm. This is a game where the Bears defense can, and should get back on track. The last 2 games the defense has looked weak, and tired. They need to snap out of it, and get back to the hungry, ball-hawking defense that we all had seen this year. If it’s a matter of the defense believing their own press, Lovie Smith and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera need to help them to understand that it doesn’t mean anything to be called the best defense. The only way this team will be remember in the same breath as the 85 Bears, and the Ravens defense of the 2000, will be for them to take this team to the Superbowl. To get to that level they’ll need to return to the level of play that has kept them in games while the offense has sputtered.

The offense doesn’t seem to be sputtering anymore. It seems like Rex and the boys have gotten themselves on track. Grossman has completed passes to 7 different receivers each of the last 2 weeks. Last week hooking up with TE Desmond Clark seven times for 125 yards and 2 TDs. Thomas Jones, and Cedric Benson are sharing the ball carrying duties as of late. Both have amassed over 50 yards in the past 2 games. It seems like balance is the name of the game for Ron Turner and the Bears offense. Not only between run and pass, but also the players that are running, and receiving the passes. It keeps everyone involved. And it keeps Rex Grossman out of a rut. I’m sure this plan will continue this week. Building on their recent success, and planning for the playoffs.

As for the Lions, they have enough troubles on the field that they don’t need the distractions of their defensive line coach Joe Cullen, who was suspended for this Sunday’s game following an incident with the police where he was cited for driving while intoxicated, and driving while nude. Now, I don’t get why anyone would drive nude, drunk or sober, but this guy has a history of this behavior. He needs help. And so do the Lions.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 20th, 2006 at 2:37 pm and is filed under Chicago Bears, Football, NFL. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.