Pre-Gamer: Bears vs. Lions

The 8-3 Bears take the trip up I-94 for a match-up with NFC North rival Detroit where they're three-point favorites. At 2-9, Detroit hasn't improved much since the Bears beat them in the season opener.

No longer just to hold clipboards: Drew Stanton has thrown a total of 36 passes for the Lions this season, but this Sunday, he's Detroit's starting QB. Though he does have a great receiver in Calvin Johnson to throw to, expect the Lions to rely on the run to give their inexperienced signal caller a break.

Not-so-ready to run: Even with the inexperienced QB, the run is dangerous for the Lions to rely on. The Bears have one of the best running defenses in the league, and the Lions top running back has been limited because of a toe injury.

Guarantee? We'll see: Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson guaranteed that the Lions would beat the Bears, and he has not backed off of that prediction. The Bears took notice, and Lance Briggs said that Burleson's words are taped up on the wall of every meeting room at Halas Hall.

Record watch: We're still keeping our eye on Devin Hester's attempt at breaking the all-time kick return record. He needs just one more to do it, and the indoor playing surface at Ford Field could be the perfect place for him.

Weather: The weather outside may be frightful in Chicago, but the Lions play indoors at Ford Field so the weather is not a concern.

History lesson: This will be the 162nd meeting of the Bears and Lions, making it the second-longest-running rivalry in the league. (Bears-Packers is the longest.) The Bears lead 92-64-5.