3 Chicago Bears Keys to Success for Week 13 vs the Detroit Lions

Thanksgiving football is one day away and kicking off the festivities are the Chicago Bears (4-7) and the Detroit Lions (10-1) in an NFC North showdown. The third of three consecutive divisional games the Bears have played, Thursday morning provides an opportunity for the team to break their five-game losing streak and get back in the win column for the first time since October 13.

With a league-leading 177-point differential through 12 weeks, it's hard to argue that the NFC North-leading Lions aren't the best team in the NFL right now. Led offensively by quarterback Jared Goff, the Lions possess a talented group of playmakers complemented by perhaps the league's premier offensive line. Defensively, the unit has barely skipped a beat since Aidan Hutchinson's regular season-ending leg injury in week five and remains one of the best defenses in football.

Clearly, the path to beating the Lions is not well-paved, but a path exists nonetheless. If the Bears want to be the team to shut down Detroit's nine-game winning streak, the road team will have to accomplish the following three keys to success:

1) Finish With 3 or Fewer Sacks

Since Thomas Brown took over the team's offensive coordinator responsibilities, the Bears have looked like a completely different team. Rookie phenom Caleb Williams accumulated 571 passing yards, 103 rushing yards, two total touchdowns, and zero turnovers in the first two games with Brown calling plays, and the team was able to match their combined scoring total from weeks 9-11 in their loss to the Vikings.

Still, the crucial area of concern for this offense remains the protection of Williams, who continues to face pressure, especially in clutch situations. Through 11 games, Williams has already taken six or more sacks in a game thrice and has only one game where he was sacked less than twice. Despite their recent losing streak skewing the numbers, the Bears are dramatically more successful when they can limit Williams' sack total to three or fewer.

The team has yet to win a game where Williams was sacked four times or more (0-4), but their record is significantly better when that number is three or less (4-3). The concern over the past few weeks - where the defense finished with three sacks in each game - is when Williams is being sacked. Under Brown, half of Williams' sacks have come on the Bears' final offensive drive.

The sack Williams took a week ago in overtime is borderline unacceptable, but there is no doubt that the young quarterback will figure out how to better deal with such a situation as he gains more experience. Still, the Packers similarly forced two sacks on Williams on the final drive which eventually resulted in a blocked kick. Fortunately for the Bears, the Lions have struggled to produce pressure since Hutchinson's injury, averaging just 1.7 sacks per game over their last three (tied with the Bears for sixth worst). Keeping Williams upright shouldn't be too difficult, but if the Bears can make it a close game on Thursday, they must protect the quarterback when the game is on the line.

2) Shut Down the Lions' Star RB Duo

Ranked first in points per game (32.7) and second in yards per game (394.3), the Lions offense has been on a roll all year. While Goff is responsible for much of this success, Detroit's identity on offense starts up front with the run game.

Led by All-Pro tackle Penei Sewell (older brother of Bears' linebacker Noah Sewell), the Lions' offensive line is one of the best in the league, especially on the ground. In the run game, the line consistently creates excellent opportunities for the Lions' star runningback duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Nicknamed Sonic and Knuckles, the former Bear provides a more downhill rushing presence while the second-year stud out of Alabama is a big play machine. Since the latter joined the team ahead of the 2023 season, the Lions are 10-0 in regular season games in which both players have scored. This season, both players recorded 100+ offensive yards simultaneously for the first time in a win against the Arizona Cardinals.

For the Bears, who are ranked in the bottom 12 teams in terms of rush yards allowed per game and rush yards allowed per attempt, trying to minimize the production of this backfield duo is a tall task. Still, the Bears have only allowed 100+ rushing yards to one player in regulation twice this season - Jonathan Taylor and James Conner - so they may be able to disrupt a familiar foe in Montgomery. Like the Bears offense in recent weeks, the run game is the true catalyst for the Lions, and shutting them down early may be the best shot at getting the juggernauts off their rhythm.

3) Do Not Make a Special Teams Mistake

Heading into their bye week, the Bears special teams unit was the talk of the town, thanks in large part to the performance of tight end Cole Kmet as the team's emergency long snapper following an injury to Scott Daly.

Since this game, the special teams unit has been severely disappointing, with major gaffs in almost all of their five consecutive losses. In some cases, such as their two unnecessary roughness penalties or a holding penalty on a punt a week ago, these mistakes simply result in the worst starting field position for the offense.

Other mistakes have had more severe consequences, including both of their blocked field goal attempts against the Packers and Vikings, the former of which directly resulted in a loss. A muffed punt that set the Vikings up in the red zone also drastically impacted the Bears' chances of a win, and the Bears essentially gave the Arizona Cardinals four free points when a penalty on a would-be successful field goal attempt allowed the Cardinals a fresh set of downs and a touchdown just a few plays later.

The unit has had some bright spots recently, including rookie punter Tory Taylor, who has landed 37% of his punts inside the 20-yard line over the past five games. Returner DeAndre Carter has also had great moments (outside of his fumble a week ago), averaging roughly 33 yards per kick return and around 10 yards per punt return. Alongside these two, the special teams group will need to consistently make the right play against the Lions if they want to win what could be another close divisional contest.