Yahoo Sports 5 Lions players to watch vs. Bears
It's been nearly a full month since the Chicago Bears last played at Soldier Field, and quite a bit has changed since their last game. They have a new head coach, a new defensive playcaller, and have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. One thing that hasn't changed? The losses.
The Bears (4-10) are riding an eight-game losing streak that spans 69 days, most recently losing to the Minnesota Vikings in prime time. They will try and finally end it this Sunday when they welcome the Detroit Lions (12-2) to town, who are hoping to keep pace as the top seed in the NFC after losing a barnburner last week to the Buffalo Bills.
Currently, the Bears can only hope to play spoiler and focus on the development of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who is nearing several significant milestones. If they have any hope of winning, however, they need to contain these key Lions players:
1. QB Jared Goff
There is a pretty good chance Lions quarterback Jared Goff finishes inside the top five for MVP voting this year—and for good reason. He has been sensational for the Lions this season, throwing for at least 30 touchdowns for the second year in a row and compiling a completion percentage of 71.4% and a passer rating of 110.4, both of which would be career highs. This week, however, Goff has to face his arch nemesis for the first time all year: the cold.
The narrative that Goff struggles when playing in cold weather isn't just a meme that gets thrown around. It actually has some legs. In December and January regular-season games in which the temperature is 45 degrees or colder, Goff has completed 162 of 293 passes for 1,602 yards, six touchdowns, and nine interceptions for a passer rating of 64.9. It's a far cry from his career average, and it's going to be chilly in Chicago on Sunday afternoon. Let's see if he can buck the trend and pick apart this Bears defense. Or maybe he continues to struggle, giving the Bears a chance to end their losing streak.
2. RB Jahmyr Gibbs
The Lions have the best running back duo in the league this season with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. It's so good, in fact, that they have earned the nickname "Sonic and Knuckles" for their contrasting running styles. Unfortunately for them, "Knuckles" isn't available as Montgomery deals with a knee injury. That leaves Gibbs, who hasn't missed a beat when he has been without his bruising teammate.
In three games Montgomery missed in 2023, Gibbs totaled 54 carries for 309 yards and two touchdowns. He's shown to be capable of handling the load as the unquestioned lead back, has only improved since his rookie season, and gets to go against a Bears rushing defense that has shown improvement but still can be gashed by running backs. We'll see how much offensive coordinator Ben Johnson relies on Gibbs this Sunday.
3. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
It's not hard to figure out who the catalyst is when it comes to the Lions passing attack. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is far and away Detroit's leading receiver, totaling 95 catches for 1,056 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 95 receptions are more than double the next leading pass-catcher, Sam LaPorta, and he leads the Lions in every receiving category by a mile. Can he keep up the big production this week, though?
The Bears defense hasn't looked great in recent weeks, but they do a nice job of limiting the top wide receiver. St. Brown had a solid performance during their first meeting (five catches for 73 yards) but struggled last year at Soldier Field. His three catches for 21 yards in 2023 were a season low for him. That could be the case again if Jaylon Johnson is covering him, though he's questionable with an illness. St. Brown's production could hinge on the Bears' top cornerback.
4. LB Jack Campbell
It's difficult to find an impactful Lions defender who hasn't been decimated by the injury bug. Jack Campbell is one of the few starters on defense who hasn't missed a game this season. The second-year linebacker is having a solid campaign, too, totaling 109 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. But all eyes will be on Campbell because of the hit he laid on Williams during their first meeting.
In the second half, Williams was scrambling up the sideline and elected to stay in bounds when Campbell was pursuing him. The linebacker took a big shot at Williams' knees, prompting a brief scuffle between both teams. Campbell says there was no malicious intent, but Bears fans may not be as understanding. We'll see if these two young playmakers collide again and what happens when they do.
5. S Kerby Joseph
Speaking of hits that could be considered malicious, Lions safety Kerby Joseph has started to earn a reputation for some of his low tackles. Joseph's tackles have caused serious knee injuries to tight ends such as Tyler Higbee of the Rams and TJ Hockenson of the Vikings. Still, Joseph has been one of the better safeties in football with his pass coverage, and he's tied for the league lead in interceptions with seven.
That will be something to watch as Joseph hasn't picked off a pass in his last four games, while Williams hasn't thrown an interception in two months. Both guys could be due for one, and if the Lions get out to a big lead, Joseph may be able to capitalize with Williams needing to throw more often.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 Lions players to watch vs. Bears
