Bears Can't Afford to Look Past Winless Lions

Football Betting Lines

10/31/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bears hope to avoid the dreaded trap game this Sunday, when they host the winless Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in the second meeting between the teams this year.

Chicago (4-3), coming off its bye week, enters this contest tied with Green Bay for first place in the NFC North and has a home date with currently unbeaten Tennessee the following weekend.

But first the Bears need to take care of business against the 0-7 Lions, who have dropped eight in a row and 14 of their last 15 dating back to last season.

Chicago had one of its finest defensive games of this season when it visited Detroit in Week 4, as the Bears held the Lions to just 185 yards of offense in a 34-7 victory. Chicago posted four sacks in that game and saw corner Charles Tillman return an interception 26 yards for a score.

The Bears didn't do too bad offensively in the win either, as quarterback Kyle Orton totaled a career-high 334 passing yards to go along with two touchdown passes.

Chicago is wrapping up a stretch of three divisional contests in four games with this weekend's test. The Bears sandwiched wins over Detroit and Minnesota around a loss to Atlanta, defeating the Vikings, 48-41, in Week 7.

It was the most points Chicago's defense had allowed since Week 12 of the 2004 season, as the Bears played without starting corners Nathan Vasher (wrist) and Tillman (shoulder) as well as safety Danieal Manning (hamstring).

However, the Bears had their largest offensive output since also scoring 48 points in a Week 14 victory back in 1986.

The win was head coach Lovie Smith's 42nd with the Bears, including the playoffs, which is good for third place on Chicago's all-time list. He still has a way to go to catch second-place Mike Ditka, who won 112 games on Chicago's sidelines.

Meanwhile, the Lions will hope that the Bears are looking past them as they shoot for their first win since December 23 of last season. Detroit's worst offensive output this campaign came versus Chicago, with its 185 yards and seven points both being season lows.

That matchup marked the first extensive work this season for quarterback Dan Orlovsky, who took over for Jon Kitna in that Week 4 contest. Orlovsky has started three games since, with Kitna now on injured reserve due to a back issue.

Although Orlovsky, a fifth-round pick by Detroit in 2005, is likely to start again this weekend, he may be playing for his job. Many in the Motown area think the Lions should give 2007 second-round pick Drew Stanton a shot under center, while the club also brought in Daunte Culpepper for a workout on Tuesday.

The Lions' most recent loss came last Sunday, a 25-17 decision versus the Washington Redskins that dropped them to 0-3 at home this year. Detroit is winless in four games as the road team and has dropped eight straight as the visiting club dating back to last year.

In fact, the Lions haven't won on the road since beating the Bears, 16-7, at Solider Field on October 28 of last season.

SERIES HISTORY

Chicago leads the all-time series with Detroit, which dates back to the 1930 season, 88-64-5, and was a 34-7 road winner when the clubs met in Week 5. The Lions swept last year's home-and-home, including the previously-mentioned 16-7 triumph at Soldier Field in Week 8. The Bears' last home win in the series took place in 2006. Detroit has not won two straight games at the Bears since 1972-73, when it finished off a six-game winning streak in Chicago.

Smith is 5-4 against the Lions as a head coach, while Detroit's Rod Marinelli is 2-3 against both Smith and the Bears as a head man. Smith and Marinelli both served as defensive coaches on Tony Dungy's staff with Tampa Bay from 1996 through 2000.

WHEN THE LIONS HAVE THE BALL

The Lions continue to rank near the bottom of most offensive categories, a big reason the club remains winless. Although Detroit's passing game is 22nd in the NFL (191.6 ypg), its 74.7 yards per game on the ground is 31st. Detroit is also scoring just 16.3 points per game, 28th in the league. The Lions posted 17 points in their loss to the Redskins last time out, with Orlovsky (741 passing yards, 3 TD, 2 INT) throwing for 223 yards and a touchdown. The 25- year-old has yet to throw an interception as a starter, though he has been picked off twice in relief this season. Wideout Calvin Johnson (29 receptions, 5 TD) remains Detroit's best weapon and made four catches for 57 yards and a score against Washington, his third straight game with a touchdown. With Roy Williams now in Dallas, wide receiver Shaun McDonald (16 receptions) stepped up with five catches for 68 yards last week. With the Lions falling behind so early in most games, Detroit has been unable to go to the ground. It posted just 57 rushing yards versus the Redskins, with Rudi Johnson (189 rushing yards, 2 total TD) scoring his first rushing touchdown as a Lion and 49th of his career. The former Bengal managed just 21 yards on eight carries, however, while rookie Kevin Smith (268 rushing yards, 3 TD, 22 receptions) had 12 yards on four carries while managing seven catches for 50 yards. Fullback Jerome Felton has started Detroit's last five games, but may miss this one due to an ankle injury.

The Bears hope the bye week will allow their banged up secondary to get healthy. Minus Vasher, Tillman and Manning, Chicago allowed the Vikings to post 439 net yards of offense, including 155 on the ground. That was an anomaly for a Bears team that ranks sixth in the NFL in rushing defense (85.9 ypg). Chicago's special teams chipped in as well, as the unit blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown while also recovering a muffed punt for a score. Vasher (13 tackles, 1 INT) has missed Chicago's last three games due to his wrist injury, while Tillman (36 tackles, 2 INT) and Manning (14 tackles) both missed their first game last time out. All three players are considered questionable after being limited in practice. Also, linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (16 tackles, 1 sack) is questionable due to a wrist injury, the latest setback for the defense. With defensive back Zack Bowman on injured reserve due to a biceps injury suffered versus Minnesota, former Lions safety Terrence Holt is expected to debut with the Bears on Sunday. Holt notched eight interceptions in four seasons with Detroit before leaving as a free agent in 2007. He signed with Chicago last Wednesday. Safety Kenny Payne (40 tackles, 3 INT) shined versus Minnesota, posting nine tackles, a sack and one of four Chicago interceptions. Corners Corey Graham (36 tackles), Trumaine McBride and Bowman had an interception each, while defensive tackle Tommie Harris had his first sack of the year.

WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL

The Bears have clicked under Orton this year, ranking second in points scored (28.0 ppg) while featuring the 11th-best passing attack (226.6 ypg) in the NFL. Orton (1669 passing yards, 10 TD, 4 INT) has won 15 of his last 21 starts and gone 11-2 at home over that span. He threw for 283 yards against the Vikings two weeks ago, delivering touchdown passes to tight end Greg Olsen and wideout Marty Booker. Booker (11 receptions, 2 TD) led the team with 79 receiving yards on three catches, while Olsen (22 receptions, 2 TD) had six receptions for 74 yards. Running back Matt Forte (515 rushing yards, 29 receptions, 6 total TD) was held to 56 yards on 20 carries with a score, but he leads all NFC rookies in rushing yards and all NFL first-year players in scrimmage yards (738). Wideout/return specialist Devin Hester (18 receptions, 2 TD) made two catches for 22 yards against the Vikes, but suffered a quad injury and had to leave the game early. He is expected to ready for this game, however. Meanwhile, wideout Brandon Lloyd (15 receptions, 1 TD), who has missed the last three games due to a knee ailment, returned to practice for the first time since suffering his injury this week and is questionable.

Much like the offense, the Detroit defense has struggled all season. The unit is dead last in points allowed (30.3) and total defense (421.6 ypg), while ranking 31st against both the run (162.9 ypg) and the pass (258.7 ypg). And while the Lions have allowed over 400 yards in five of seven games this year, the unit is often winded early on. Detroit has held the ball for a league- worst 24 minutes and 42 seconds per game, keeping its defense on the field for a long time. On a positive note, the Lions have posted 11 sacks in their last three games, including three versus Washington. Defensive end Dewayne White (33 tackles, 5.5 sacks) was credited with a sack-and-a half, with defensive tackle Cory Redding (20 tackles, 2 sacks) getting the other half. End Cliff Avril also notched a sack, while linebacker Paris Lenon (44 tackles, 1 sack) led the club with nine tackles. White now has a sack in five of seven games this year, while linebacker Ernie Sims (56 tackles) had his first career interception and forced fumble when the clubs met in September of last season. Rookie linebacker Jordon Dizon (hamstring) and starting safety Dwight Smith (foot) both missed the Washington game and did not practice early this week.

FANTASY FOCUS

Even with Williams in town, Calvin Johnson has worked his way into must-start territory. The second-year wideout has 12 catches, 230 receiving yards and three touchdowns in three division games this year, and is the Lions' only true option on offense. McDonald and Mike Furrey are also in the mix with Williams gone, but neither is a sure thing right now. Though Orlovsky hasn't been turning the ball over, he doesn't rack up enough numbers to warrant a start against a tough matchup this weekend. Though Rudi Johnson appears to be getting more carries right now, neither he nor Kevin Smith get the ball enough. Finally, despite its rapid sack total as of late, Detroit's defense is not worth a roster spot.

The Bears are poised for yet another big game. They destroyed the Lions offensively and defensively last time out, making any Chicago player on your roster worth a look. Orton, Forte, Olson and Booker are all in play, though Lloyd is a risky start if he plays. Quad injury or not, Hester is still dangerous and worth a look, and he posted a career-long 97-yard kick return for a touchdown versus the Lions last year. That is good news for those who get credit for return yards in their league. Chicago's defense is also a must- start this week.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

If their first matchup is any indication, the Lions are in for another long afternoon. Until Detroit starts moving the ball offensively, their defense is going to be worn down and will continue to allow points, putting the club in big holes early. That, of course, takes away Detroit's running game and puts too much pressure on Orlovsky. The Lions won't make any progress this weekend against a rolling Bears team that manhandled Detroit on both sides of the ball last time out, and on the road nonetheless.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Bears 31, Lions 13