Oct 22, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

This one’s for all the marbles, Bears fans. It’s Week 17 at Ford Field, and the Chicago Bears will meet the Detroit Lions for the 166^th time with the Bears holding a 95-65-5 edge.  The Lions have lost five of their last seven against the Bears at Ford Field and 12 of the last 15 meetings overall.  You know the Lions would love to play the spoiler and keep the Bears out of the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six years.  Bears QB Jay Cutler has performed well against the Lions, having thrown just one interception and 11 touchdowns in seven career games against them as a Bear.

Lions WR Calvin Johnson has already set the record for receiving yards in a season with 1,892, but you know he would love to be the first wide receiver ever to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark.  The Bears can expect a healthy dose of Calvin, who leads the league with 117 receptions, throughout the game.

Bears WR Brandon Marshall, who leads the team with 11 touchdowns, is rewriting Bears history books, already setting franchise records for catches in a season (113) and receiving yards in a season (1,466).  He also ranks in the Bears all-time top 50 for career receptions (44^th), receiving yards (44^th) and receiving touchdowns (32^nd).  If he can catch three touchdown passes on Sunday, he will also set the franchise record for receiving touchdowns in a season, currently 13 held by Dick Gordon (1970) and Ken Kavanaugh (1947).

Let’s check out some more numbers for this Sunday’s game.

4:  Number of career sacks by Bears DE Julius Peppers against the Lions in five games as a Bear.

6, 0:  Number of touchdowns and interceptions, respectively, thrown by Cutler against the Lions in three career games at Ford Field.

7.8:  Average catches per game by Lions WR Calvin Johnson in 2012.

4:  Averages catches per game by Calvin Johnson against the Bears at Ford Field in four career games.

11:  Number of combined career forced fumbles against the Lions by Peppers (5), Lance Briggs (3) and Charles Tillman (3).

7:  Number of games Bears RB Matt Forte has gained 100 or more yards from scrimmage against the Lions in nine career starts against them.

90:  Yards from scrimmage needed by Forte to reach 1,400 or more for the fifth consecutive season.

10/10/11:  The last time Cutler completed more than 23 passes in a game (against the Lions at Ford Field).

8:  Completions needed by Cutler to pass Jim Harbaugh (1,023) for first on the Bears all-time list.

13:  Consecutive road games the Bears have committed at least one turnover (last game without one was October 10, 2011 at Ford Field against the Lions).

37:  Number of sacks by the Bears defensive line, second most in the NFL this season.

304:  Average total yards per game given up by the Bears defense on the road this season.

435:  Average total yards per game by the Lions offense at home this season.

27.3:  Average points per game given up by the Lions defense at home this season.

10:  Number of defensive (6) and special teams (4) touchdowns scored against the Lions this season.

2:  Number of games where a single Bears receiver other than Marshall gained more than 50 yards (both were Alshon Jeffery).

5:  Number of times the Bears have turned the ball over on their first offensive possession of the game this season. (They are 3-2 in those games.)

1-4:  Bears record this season when they commit more turnovers than their opponents.

4:  Number of punt returns by Bears opponents of seven or more yards.

22:  Number of games since Bears KR Devin Hester has returned a kickoff or punt for a touchdown (Last: 11/13/11 kickoff return against the Detroit Lions).

1:  Number of first quarter scoring drives of 80 or more yards by the Bears this season.

0:  Number of first quarter passing plays of 20 or more yards by the Bears this season.

The numbers do not lie.  The Bears need to get off to a fast start this week and not let the Lions have any hope of winning the game.  Lions QB Matthew Stafford isn’t afraid to throw the ball often, and when he does, the Lions usually lose (they are 1-8 when he throws 50 or more times in a game).  The more times the ball is in the air, the more chances the Bears have at creating turnovers.

This is it.  Four quarters of Cutler running for his life and hoping the defense and special teams can create some magic.  Then routing for the Green Bay Packers for three hours…ew, gross.  But it has to be done.  What a way for the regular season finish up.

Oct 22, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) is tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman (33) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Bears won 13-7. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears (9-6) and Detroit Lions (4-11) meet up at Ford Field on Sunday with a playoff berth at stake for the Bears.  Win and hope the Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings to earn a trip most likely to San Francisco to take on the 49ers.  Sounds plausible, right?

When the Bears and Lions met up at Soldier Field in prime time earlier this season, the Bears came away with a 13-7 win, hardly a runaway win to give the Bears any overconfidence heading into Sunday.   Back during their first matchup, the Lions were still thought to be playoff contenders following a strong 2011 season, but seven straight losses turned them from  contenders to pretenders.

To help us get prepped for this latest divisional matchup, we reached out to longtime friend Zac Snyder who runs SideLion Report.  Here are our questions and Zac’s answers:  (more…)

Nov 13, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) forces Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) to fumble the ball in the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

As the Detroit Lions prepare for their trip to Chicago to face the Chicago Bears on Monday night, Lions QB Matthew Stafford was speaking to the Chicago media in his pre-game conference call with the media.  The quarterback answered a number of questions about the slow start of his all-world WR Calvin Johnson.

“Well, Calvin is Calvin and he is a great receiver, but it’s really my fault that we haven’t been clicking so far this season,” said Stafford.  “The truth is, I am a firm believer in the Madden Curse.”

According to Wikipedia, while appearing on the cover has become an honor akin to appearing on the Wheaties box, much like the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx, certain players who appeared on Madden video game box art have experienced a decline in performance, usually due to an injury.

“There have been times this year when Calvin has been wide open, but that damn curse enters my mind and I might just put the ball out of reach or airmail it into the 3^rd row,” continued Stafford.  “I mean, I don’t want to get him hurt or anything.”

Johnson seems to appreciate his quarterback having his back, “My chances will come.  We will be down enough this season, so there will be plenty of garbage time for me to get my numbers when the defenses play a little softer.”

In other news, it has been rumored that DT Ndamukong Suh is planning to drive himself from Detroit to Chicago for the game on Monday.  As such, the Chicago Bears, in association with the Chicago Parks and Recreation Department and Chicago Police Department will be issuing a joint warning about parking near Soldier Field.

 The Cover Stew is a satirical look at the Chicago Bears, Football and Life in General.

The Bears need to finish what they started in Week 1. (photo courtesy of The Detroit News)

On the eve of what could be one of the most important games of the season (Yes, I said it.), the Bears need to be thinking about three words.  Finish the game.  Detroit first exposed this weakness of the Bears in Week 1.  A game is sixty minutes long and if you let up for even 1:32, Calvin Johnson and the Lions can come back on ya, barring debatable rules.  This achilles heel has come close to plaguing the Bears often this season and they cannot allow the vengeful Lions to have another chance late in a game.

Five of the Bears wins and two of their losses have been by a touchdown or less.  Last week against the Eagles, the Bears couldn’t score in the 4^th quarter and almost let an 18 point lead slip away.  In those seven close games, the Bears averaged less than 6 points in the fourth quarter.  While they have won more close games than they have lost to date, the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Mark Sanchez in the final games of the season, will be able to take advantage of any opportunity that the Bears allow them.  If the Bears can’t fire themselves up to sprint to the finish, they will find themselves sitting at home by the fire in January.

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The Bears look to cross one "goal line" with a winning season in Detroit on Sunday.

We try to do a little Q&A with the opposing team’s blogger each week and with the upcoming rematch against the Lions, Side Lion Reports’ Zac Snyder took a few moments of his time to answer a couple of quick questions in our Blogger Exchange Program.

Bear Goggles On: It looks like the Bears catch a break with Shaun Hill sidelined with a busted finger and Drew Stanton getting the call on Sunday.  Give Bears fans who might not be familiar with Stanton a little preview of what to expect from him.  What are his strengths? Weaknesses? How does Stanton impact the Lions offensive game plan?

Side Lion Report: Stanton’s strengths are more of the intangible variety. He is one of those tough grinder guys that get labeled as “gamers”. That is all well and good if there is legitimate NFL talent behind it, but Stanton has mired as a third string quarterback for a reason. He does have the ability to make a couple plays with his feet but the game plan will be limited with Stanton under center. I expect a lot of short passes and an attempt at running the football as Stanton is asked just to manage the game.

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Don’t get me wrong, as a Bears fan I’m thrilled with the call, but I think we all know a catch when we see one and that was a catch.

Here’s what referee Gene Steratore had to say about the controversial play after the game (via ChicagoBreakingSports.com)  (more…)

Rookie sensation Johnny Knox leaves on a cart.

Johnny Knox had his leg folded underneath him on a kickoff return and had to be carted off.  Later, Peanut Tillman drew some friendly fire from teammate Craig Steltz that forced Tillman to leave the field on a stretcher and had to be taken immediately to the hospital.

Early reports indicate that both players will be OK, but it’s unlikely that you’ll see either of them in the season finale against the Lions.

Knox has an ankle sprain that might get Juaquin Iglesias some time against the Lions, while Tillman suffered fractured ribs that will keep him sidelined.  Expect to see Corey Graham or Nathan Vasher to see time at corner next week against the Lions.

If you still have fantasy football playoffs going on next week, Calvin Johnson’s status just bumped up a couple of notches.

Air Cutler? It's gotta be the pink shoes!

Jay Cutler had a ho-hum day, going 18-28 for 141 yards and 2 TD’s.  He added a spectacular rushing TD as he hurled himself into the endzone and helicoptered in.  Hate to say this, but it kind of reminded me of that John Elway Super Bowl scramble.

People can call him petulant or a cry-baby or whatever, but Cutler can flat out play football.   The more I watch him play, the more impressed I am with him.  Did you notice him blocking downfield late in the game when Garrett Wolfe cut back on a running play?

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