CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Bears visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Kickoff is set for noon from Ford Field, and the game can be heard on WBBM Newsradio 780. Here are Jeff Joniak's keys to the game.
Offense
Only twice last season did the Bears score touchdowns on their first possession and a total of just 17-points. Overall, in eleven games, the Bears did not score a first half touchdown. They totaled under 100-yards of offense, four times in the first half. These are examples of why head coach Matt Nagy says the Bears never established who they were as an offense. To open this season, they must stick their flag in the ground and make the proclamation of what they are and who they plan to be in 2020.
Nagy is looking for tempo, timing, and toughness. A dedication to a physical run game at the point of attack, play action, and drives that end in touchdowns would look real good to start the season. The Lions developed into a decent run stopping unit late in the season.
The Lions loaded up on former Patriots on defense with a half dozen new starters, and a new coordinator in Cory Undlin, a former Patriots assistant and former secondary coach in Philadelphia. They played a lot of man coverage last season, and the expectation is they may do play it again. It's a chance for Mitch Trubisky to find completions and first downs with new weapons at tight end, a ready to emerge Anthony Miller at receiver and his favorite target Allen Robinson.
Blocking Lions defensive lineman Trey Flowers is a critical key. He is disruptive with his pass rush and flexibility to rush inside or outside. Last season in two games, Flowers made 10 tackles, including three for loss, two sacks, and three hits on the QB.
Interesting that the only two tight end catches in the red zone for touchdowns by the Bears in 2019, both came against the Lions defense. New Bear Jimmy Graham caught six passes against the Lions in two games with the Packers last season. Six tight ends caught at least 50-yards in passes last season against the Lions. It might be an opportunity for the Bears.
Defense
As much as the Bears need touchdowns on offense, they need turnovers forced on defense. They expect to have an outstanding pass rush from the inside and the outside with a ferocious front and rangy tacklers at inside linebacker in Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith.
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is healthy and was on his way to an outstanding season with coordinator Darrell Bevell before a back injury ended his season. The Lions never won without him. They have added running backs and two new offensive linemen on the right side. Stafford's arm is still a bazooka. He is fearless in tight spaces, and will give the secondary opportunities to make plays on the ball.
It stands to reason Stafford will zero in on rookie right cornerback Jaylon Johnson and test his metal throughout the game. Without a preseason, it might take a minute for everyone, especially rookies, to catch up the speed of the game. It will not surprise me if Johnson is up to the challenge. He is supremely confident and instinctive.
A healthy Akiem Hicks will have his engine revved up and matchups against a rookie guard in Jonah Jackson from Ohio State. It is a matchup to keep an eye on, and so will the Lions plan for curtailing the pass pressure of Kahlil Mack.
St. Rita product Kenny Golladay suffered a hamstring injury this week. He is on the verge of becoming one of the premier receivers in the league. He led the Lions with 22 catches of 20+ yards for an average distance of 35.2 yards on those plays, five for touchdowns. That was second best in the league behind Tampa Bay's Chris Godwin. The Bears defense does not give up a lot of big plays, and Golladay is the big play threat to stop.
Special Teams
I brought this up last season, but kickers fizzle at Ford Field. In the last 40 games since 2015, opposing kickers have missed 19 field goals and seven extra points in that building. That's a percentage of 74.7% on three-pointers despite perfect conditions. None of the 134 field goal attempts in the career of Cairo Santos have come at Ford Field. His last game was last October in his personal Nashville nightmare, missing all four of his kicks in a tight loss to Buffalo. Matt Nagy trusts Santos who has 67 games of experience after watching him make big kicks in Kansas City.
You wonder with the lack of an offseason and no preseason games what the tackling will be like on special teams. There will likely be some missed tackles, and maybe an opportunity for big returns for Cordarrelle Patterson and Tarik Cohen in the kick and punt return game. The same goes for the Bears coverage against the Lion's dangerous returner, Jamal Agnew.
Intangibles
Get ready for just about anything. There is no way to predict what these teams will look like, or what wrinkles they will use to surprise each other. This is a completely un-scouted week one around the league, which should make for some entertaining football.
The Lions were a tough out last season despite their overall record. They had leads in 14 games last season, but could not finish. They were 2-3-1 in games decided by a field goal or less and they were 3-8-1 in games decided by one score or less. The organization has added more Matt Patricia type guys, with experience and toughness so the Bears should expect a fight.
