3 Chicago Bears ready to breakout with their best game against Detroit Lions

The Chicago Bears will take on the Detroit Lions in a key division matchup. The Bears are sitting at 3-7, but can certainly play spoiler to a Detroit team that is having a great season. There are a few matchups that lean to the Bears having some success. Which players could have their best game?

3. Can Robert Tonyan make a play or two for the Chicago Bears?

This one may be pretty easy to call for when you consider Robert Tonyan is averaging just 5.8 yards per game. Still, there is reason to believe that his play is key to beating Detroit.

The Lions have a good defense because they are sound against 11-personnel, which is one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers. 

They have good run-defending linebackers so they can commit fewer bodies in the box to defend the run while spreading out to defend passing teams. However, when teams get them packed in heavy, they can expose the linebackers.

The Lions rank 22nd in expected points added against 12-personnel, which is two tight ends, and 25th against 13-personnel. They also rank 30th against 21-personnel, which is two backs and one tight end. 

When you pack them in tight, they struggle. The Bears run 12-personnel about 4% more than average teams, and 21-personnel about 2% more. Khari Blasingame returning could be huge as well for Chicago.

For the Lions, Noah Gray had 31 yards against them. The Seahawks scored 37 against Detroit, and Noah Fant had 56 yards, Colby Parkinson had 41 yards, and Will Dissly had 35. They used all three tight ends. 

Jonnu Smith had 37 yards while Kyle Pitts had 41 yards, Josiah Deguara had 34 yards against them, Ian Thomas had 28 as the backup to Hayden Hurst, who added 21 yards, and while Mark Andrews had a big game against them, Patrick Ricard added 31 yards receiving. 

It is not just the big names tight ends, and almost is the depth names that are giving them even more trouble. If this remains on Sunday, the Bears could see Blasingame or Tonyan with the best receiving production of their season.