The Week 18 matchup between the Bears and the Lions is not so much a rematch as a referendum on their respective trajectories. The Week 2 blowout was about who these teams were; the Week 18 is about who these teams became. Since these two teams last saw one another, they couldn't have taken more different paths.
The Lions may be eliminated from the playoffs, but that doesn't mean they don't have a say in the fate of the NFC North. The Bears have secured the division title, but the seeding of the NFC remains in the balance. If the Bears take home the win, they secure the 2 seed. However, if they fall at the hands of the Lions for the second time this year, they hold the 3 seed.
Closing Strong
With this game critical to the Bears' playoff chances, it's worth looking at what happened in Week 2 and how the Bears can avoid it.
In that brutal loss, the Bears allowed the Lions 511 total yards. Across that, the Lions produced seven total touchdown drives, and six of them were for 60+ yards. The Bears' defense faltered, and critical stops were not made, particularly in situational football. Chicago posted no sacks, no turnovers, and only a single tackle for loss.
Defensive stagnation crippled the Bears, and on a day when the offense desperately needed support, they found none. Explosive plays must be limited, and the Lions' offense must be kept in check. The Lions offense had seven plays of 25+ yards. Dennis Allen's defense couldn't take the pressure, and the cracks in the system were blown open.
Since that Week 2 game, these two teams couldn't have traveled more different paths. While the Lions saw limited success that couldn't gain momentum, the Bears went on one of the hottest streaks of the league, and most pundits couldn't keep their name out of their mouths.
What Must Change
Sustaining Drives is an absolute must. Back in Week 2, the Bears had several promising drives that fell flat. The offense has had a whole season to find its rhythm, and it's time on a national stage to show that it's done it.
Turnovers have been the highlight of the season for this Bears team, and forcing takeaways has become their defensive identity. The Bears routinely score points after takeaways, and failing to do so again could cause this team to stumble.
Preventing Explosive Plays should be the defense's top priority moving into this week. There's no way Dennis Allen and the defense have forgotten the spanking Detroit gave them the last time they met. Preventing players such as Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown from going off is essential to a winning formula.
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If the Bears can improve in these three key areas, they'll have a real shot at taking home the 2 seed. The teams that show up to this Week 18 matchup are not the teams that played in Week 2, and that makes sense. Using the fuel of a loss at the hands of the 49ers could set Chicago up to begin gaining momentum. With the playoffs right around the corner, the Bears will need all the momentum they can get.