The Chicago Bears are coming off of a stinging loss to the Green Bay Packers, but they won’t get much of a reprieve as they’ll take on the Detroit Lions this week at Soldier Field.
The Bears, who were unable to stop Brett Hundley and the short-handed Packers in their last game, will now have to face one of the NFL’s most potent passing offenses. Matthew Stafford and the Lions are averaging 254.3 yards per game through the air, and with talented pass catchers like Golden Tate and Marvin Jones Jr. in the mix, the Bears’ secondary is going to have a big task on its hands.
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Trubisky came into the NFL like a lightning bolt, showcasing an accurate arm and incredible athleticism in his preseason debut.
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His numbers may not have been spectacular, but his accuracy was on full display, and Bears fans began clamoring for him to play after another rough showing by Mike Glennon.
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Glennon finally emerged as a threat in the passing game, but Trubisky held his own too, throwing for over 100 yards for the second time in the preseason.
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The only highlight from this game was a lowlight, as Trubisky took a massive shot late in the game when he was controversially brought back into a game that the Bears were trailing by a wide margin.
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In his first ever start, Trubisky had some stellar moments, but he wasn’t able to lead the Bears to victory, as the team lost to Minnesota.
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Trubisky looked much more comfortable in his second career start, guiding the Bears’ offense through some tough spots against an aggressive defense as he picked up his first career win.
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This game may be known as the “training wheels” game, as Trubisky only attempted seven passes and tried rushing five times. Even despite that, the Bears won thanks to Eddie Jackson.
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This was the first game where Trubisky really was allowed to throw some big passes, and while he made some big throws (and a nearly 50 yard run to boot), he threw a bad pass late in the game that cost his team a chance to tie things up late.
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Despite having two weeks to prepare, Trubisky's accuracy and footwork were off early in the game. He did ultimately recover and threw a gorgeous touchdown to Josh Bellamy, but it wasn't enough as the Bears fell 23-16.
The Bears’ secondary has proven itself to a degree this season, giving up 205 yards per game, 10th-best in the NFL. They were exposed a bit against Green Bay, as Kyle Fuller’s propensity to play off the line of scrimmage and to try to make aggressive plays on the ball, rather than jamming receivers at the point of attack, proved to be a liability against Hundley and company.
While those numbers are intriguing, the real question is going to be whether or not the Bears can take advantage of Detroit’s weaknesses. The Lions give up nearly 250 yards per game through the air, but even with Mitchell Trubisky at the helm the Bears have been one of the league’s worst passing attacks, averaging under 170 yards per game this season.
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears hands the football off to Tarik Cohen #29 in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Benny Cunningham #30 of the Chicago Bears attempts a touchdown, but results in a touchback in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Jamaal Williams #30 of the Green Bay Packers tackles Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Ty Montgomery #88 of the Green Bay Packers carries the football past Prince Amukamara #20 of the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers sacks quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Jamaal Williams #30 of the Green Bay Packers reacts in the third quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Davante Adams #17 of the Green Bay Packers completes the pass against Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Akiem Hicks #96 and Cre'von LeBlanc #22 of the Chicago Bears celebrate after LeBlanc got a sack against the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Christian Jones #52 of the Chicago Bears hits Ty Montgomery #88 of the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Benny Cunningham #30 of the Chicago Bears carries the football in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 23-16. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Benny Cunningham #30 of the Chicago Bears carries the football in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 23-16. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Brett Hundley #7 of the Green Bay Packers runs 17 yards for a first down against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Packers defeated the Bears 23-16. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Jordy Nelson #87 of the Green Bay Packers moves after a catch against Cre'von LeBlanc #22 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Packers defeated the Bears 23-16. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Richard Rodgers #82 and Ty Montgomery #88 of the Green Bay Packers celebrate a touchdown run by Mongomery against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Packers defeated the Bears 23-16. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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That could be changing, with Dontrelle Inman giving Trubisky another passing option and with Dowell Loggains opening up the playbook a bit, but the rookie quarterback will have to showcase better footwork and quicker decision-making skills if he’s going to work against an average-to-below-average line.
The Bears’ standard tactic of running the ball may not work against Detroit either. The Bears average just under 122 yards per game on the ground, but Detroit’s rushing defense is one of the best in football, allowing just a shade over 100 yards per game to opposing rushers.
That clash of strengths will be a key, as it will likely force the Bears to go to the air more often than they have in most of the games Trubisky has started.
In the big picture, this game will feature some interesting subplots, but it means a lot to the Lions, who are facing a tough Minnesota team on Thanksgiving. A short-turnaround and the two-game gap that they face in the NFC North could leave them looking ahead just a bit, and if the Bears can take advantage of that, and finally get their passing game going, then they could give Detroit some issues on Sunday afternoon.
