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

2. The Chicago Bears could get another strong game from Jaylon Johnson 

Sunday will be an interesting test for the Chicago Bears. Right now, no one is hotter than Jaylon Johnson at cornerback. Johnson ranks first in yards per target allowed and second in yards per coverage snap amongst cornerbacks, with 130 snaps played this year. He is one of the best in the NFL.

Some of this has to do with him stepping up his game and playing much better, but it also has to do with teams picking on Tyrique Stevenson as well, knowing it is an easier option to attack. 

For the Detroit Lions, they can find ways to attack the Bears without throwing a single target at Johnson. Their top three pass-catchers are Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta. They account for 61% of the targets on this offense, and at times, they have not been healthy in the offense. Jaylon Johnson will hardly see any of them.

Gibbs and LaPorta are going to see the safeties and linebackers because they are not receivers. St. Brown will see Johnson at times, but the Lions can do a lot of things to get him away. 

St. Brown played 52% of his snaps as a slot wide receiver. The Bears did move Johnson into the slot against Carolina at a time to defend Adam Thielen, but that was on obvious pass downs because Kyler Gordon is a solid run defender in the slot. 

With the Lions, they are in obvious pass-downs much less often. More than that, they motion St. Brown more than most receivers do so they can dictate the matchup. When St. Brown is out wide, expect to see Detroit find ways to get him on Tyrique Stevenson.

The Lions will likely have Josh Reynolds run a lot of clear-out routes against Jaylon Johnson down the field. Johnson has to play them tough, but he could shut down Reynolds while the rest of the defense gets challenged.