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Biggest Key to Beating Detroit Lions: (Khalil) Mack Attack!

By Bill Zimmerman

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears sits on the bench in the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field on September 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears sits on the bench in the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field on September 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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The Chicago Bears could use a dominant Khalil Mack to defeat the Detroit Lions this week.

It’s time.

Chicago Bears fans have had a gloriously delicious appetizer. A 5-3 record at the halfway point? Every fan would have signed for that in August. But a good first half is ruined by a mediocre second.

Have you ever had a delicious appetizer and a bland main course at a restaurant and after you paid the bill and left you said to yourself, “What a fantastic dinner.” Of course not. No one has.

The waiter has cleared the table and the main course is being brought to your table. It’s time for the chef to have a second course as delicious (no, more delicious) that the first.

The Bears had a nice first half and there is a little buzz about them around the league. This month is going to start defining this team as a decent team that’s had a manageable schedule or a very good team they needs to be taken seriously. The Bears have three divisional games in the next 12 days. Win all three, and you’ll be the talk of the league. Lose 2 or 3 and they won’t be taken seriously the rest of the season (nor should they). If they win 2 though, that will definitely open some eyes.

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If they are winning at least two of three, they better win this Sunday at home against the Detroit Lions. The Bears have a better roster, home field advantage, and are healthier coming into the game. Every arrow points to the Bears winning, but they certainly aren’t at a point where they can look past teams, assume victories and win just by showing up.

For the first time all season, both Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd will be healthy at the same time. If Mack returns to his September form and Floyd plays as well as he did against Buffalo, this is going to be a nightmare scenario for Matthew Stafford and the Lions.

Other than a second half where they couldn’t tackle against the Miami Dolphins, even with a hobbled/missing Mack, the defense continued to play well, but they didn’t have that same frightening swagger like they did the first few weeks.

That swagger was born from a ferocious pass rush like Chicago hasn’t seen since the mid-1980s and it was thanks to an unblockable Khalil Mack.

The Lions have given up 44 sacks including 10 last week when Danielle Hunter had 3.5 sacks and terrorized Stafford all game. If Mack is a full-go and plays like he did in September, there’s no reason that Mack can’t have a similar type of impact, even if it’s not in the stats, in presence.

If Mack is drawing double and triple teams, that will open things back up for Akiem Hicks and Leonard Floyd (and Aaron Lynch) to have favorable matchups and one-on-one situations. It could mean a tremendous day for the Bears’ pass rush.

The offense should manage to be efficient against a Lions’ defense that looks like they’ll be missing Darius Slay. If they play well and the defense dominates, the Bears should cruise to a win.

Final Score Prediction: Chicago Bears 27, Detroit Lions 16

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