Detroit Lions: Win Over Bears Could Prove to be Turning Point

By Charlie Portelli

The Detroit Lions have been a popular pick among analysts over the last handful of years to make a jump into the elite group among NFC teams. They have made a habit over those years to build some hype with encouraging play through the preseason and into early season action only to have it squandered by a string of letdowns that have hardly become a surprise. The Lions visited Soldier Field on Sunday for a contest against the Chicago Bears in a 3-way tie for the division lead as they shared the same record as the Bears and Packers at 5-3. This was a prototypical spot for a typical letdown for the Lions. Only the opposite happened. They were the better team for 60 minutes and came away with a hard fought victory on the road and emerged as the division leaders at 6-3.

The Lions win on Sunday was extremely encouraging. In a year filled with steps in the right direction for the Lions, Sunday was a huge leap. Their defense was able to step up and hold Bears RB Matt Forte to his lowest rush total of the entire season (33 yards) as well as his lowest average per carry (1.9). The Lions coaching staff made it a point to stop the run and dare a hobbled Jay Cutler to beat them through the air. The Lions front four took care of that part. Defensive tackles Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh combined for 8 quarterback hits on Jay Cutler and each had a sack. Linebackers Stephen Tulloch and especially DeAndre Levy also played admirably and have helped form an impressive front seven for the defense.

On the other side of the ball, Matthew Stafford did not have the stats that might jump out at you on paper Sunday but he continues his progression as a QB that has the capability of carrying a team on his back. He makes the big throws when the pressure is at its greatest and has done so all year. WR Calvin Johnson is now healthy and there is obviously no need to over analyze his value to this team. He is the best receiver in the league and quite possibly the most lethal weapon in football on offense. The mere presence of Calvin on the field has made the signing of RB Reggie Bush pure genius. Reggie Bush and the Lions offense are the perfect marriage. He had shown flashes of excellence throughout his 8 year NFL career but it was not until this year, his first season with the Lions, that he has lived up to his sky-high potential. The Lions coaching staff has done an admirable job of late to keep him healthy by limiting his touches because lets be real, the season is only half completed and the playoffs are in their sights. It is imperative that Bush stays fresh.

Perhaps the most surprising asset for the Lions through the first half of the season has been their offensive line. Personally, I thought that the Lions would struggle in all phases of their offense due to poor offensive line play. They were inexperienced on the line but most notably at the two tackle positions. LT Riley Reiff has been incredibly steady for a player that played sparingly last year as a rookie and was rumored to be moved to an inside guard position in the offseason due to his inability to handle a tackle spot. For what very well should be a catastrophic mess for the Lions, the right tackle position has been equally steady. Most fans are probably unaware of the situation, and by all means, that is a great thing. They started the season with a first time starter in often injured Jason Fox. It did not take long before he went down with a groin injury.  Next up, Corey Hilliard. He quickly went down with a knee injury. The third man up was undrafted rookie LaAdrian Waddle and he has been excellent. He first filled in against the Bengals and impressed. That earned him a start against the Cowboys where he shined. Then on Sunday he started again and did not allow a single QB pressure and also helped open holes for RB Reggie Bush as he gashed the Chicago defense for 104 yards. He averaged a striking 7.5 yards per carry. RB Joique Bell tacked on an extra 41 yards on the ground for good measure as he continues to be the perfect complimentary back to Bush.

The Lions win on Sunday should not be downplayed; it was enormous. They completed their sweep of the Bears and put themselves in the drivers seat to win the division. They were also able to improve their record against their own division to 3-1 (which could be key in the event of a tiebreaker for the division title). Their remaining schedule also happens to be the easiest in the NFL, so all of sudden, hosting a playoff game does not seem so far-fetched.

With that said, this is the NFL. The league is extremely competitive and any team can win any game on any given Sunday. Just ask the Colts. They were blown out 38-8 in their own stadium yesterday by an inferior St. Louis Rams team. Something that was not so inspiring on Sunday was the Lions showing signs of the "same old Lions" as they committed three personal fouls late in the game. Stafford also threw an interception late that could have derailed their winning effort. Also, despite the defensive line's success on Sunday, the secondary is still a major issue as they struggle with bigger receivers. Rookie CB Darius Slay has been a disappointment thus far for a unit that could really use the help. Of course they were not going to be perfect on the road but as I said, they were the better team over the course of the entire game but still managed to give the Bears an opportunity to steal the game at the end.

For once, luck seems to be on the Lions side this year. Green Bay's star QB Aaron Rodgers is out for the foreseeable future with a broken collarbone, Chicago's QB Jay Cutler is now battling an ankle injury on top of his injured groin. For the most part, the Lions are healthy.

The Lions have not hosted a playoff game since 1991. They find themselves in a rare position heading into week 11. They control their own destiny and have a chance to win their division for the first time since 1993 and play a playoff game in front of a sold out Ford Field.

A division championship seemed inconceivable for Lions fans before the season began, but things change quickly in the NFL. Not only is it now conceivable, its expected.