Chicago Bears: 5 Players to Watch in Week 14
The Week 14 matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions clearly won’t be a must-see game among the majority of football fans, and should be an easy game to predict. The Bears (3-9) are coming off of a victory, but overall are still struggling with inconsistent play and injuries. The only piece of optimism Chicago may have going into this contest is the fact that they did defeat Detroit in Week 4. However, the Bears will be playing at Ford Field; a place where they haven’t won since 2012.
More from Chicago Bears News
- Franchise tag and transition tag windows open for Chicago Bears and NFL
- How the Chicago Bears can control the running back market in 2023
- The Chicago Bears can own the city of Chicago moving forward
- Chicago Bears NFL Combine Preview: Quarterback
- 7 best free agent tackle options for Chicago Bears
With the season winding down, the Lions (8-4) are leading the NFC North, and have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL over the last several weeks. Since losing to Chicago in Week 4, Detroit has won seven of their last eight games. Even with both teams trying to cope with key injuries, it appears that the Bears are still overmatched. Regardless of this one-sidedness, let’s take a look at the players that will be vital to Chicago’s chances of coming away with an upset.
Matt Barkley
Overall, since stepping in as the starter in Week 12, Matt Barkley has done a decent job of leading the Bears’ offense. His first two career starts were at home, but now the four-year veteran will be making his first career start on the road. Detroit’s pass defense is ranked 21st in the league, but in the last three games they have recorded six interceptions. Barkley will have to be extra careful to not turn the ball over in the passing game.
Jordan Howard
Hands down, rookie running back Jordan Howard has been the Bears’ offensive MVP of the season. Howard is 117 yards shy of reaching the 1,000-yard rushing mark, and is coming off of a three-touchdown performance in Week 13. The fifth-round draft pick’s production could be the main ingredient to Chicago’s success on the offensive side of the ball. The Lions’ run defense (ranked 13th) is a fairly stingy one, but let’s not forget that Howard did rush for 111 yards against this same defense in Week 4.
Leonard Floyd
Just like on offense, the Bears are getting some big-time production from a rookie on defense. Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd is continuing to come into his own as a pass rusher, and will be hoping to add to his sack total on the season in Detroit. In the last five games that he has played in, Floyd has recorded 6.5 sacks, with one of those sacks resulting in a safety. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is putting up big numbers this year, and nothing more will be greater than seeing the first-round draft pick getting to Stafford early and often.
Akiem Hicks
In Week 13, defensive end Akiem Hicks had the best game of his career. The five-year veteran was everywhere along the line of scrimmage against the San Francisco 49ers, recording 10 tackles and two sacks. As a result, Hicks was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Detroit’s running game won’t strike fear into the hearts of many defense, but Hicks’ presence should stop the little bit that the Lions will dish out. Hopefully, his play against the pass will be just as effective.
Josh Bellamy
Wide receiver Josh Bellamy was limited in all three practices this week with a shoulder injury, and is listed as questionable for this week’s game. With Alshon Jeffery still serving a four-game suspension, all of Chicago wideouts need to step up, especially Bellamy. The second-year veteran had a game he would like to forget in Week 12, when he dropped a potential game-winning touchdown. In Week 13, Bellamy did rebound with his best game of the season, hauling in four catches for 93, but still had a case of the dropsies. Assuming that he plays, Bellamy needs to find a way to get his mitts on the ball, and keep them on the ball.