Trubisky listed as questionable. Took a big hit on his sore shoulder against Minny, but stayed in the game, so i'd think that he'll play, although he doesn't get much time to recover--in fact, the Bears have the shortest turnaround in NFL history (so much for caring about player safety, Roger!)
Trubisky had a rough start for which I partly blame his youth, the new coaching staff (Nagy and Helfrich), and the new plethora of weapons.
But he has actually been very consistent in the following sense:
Against Seattle, Green Bay, Buffalo, Minnesota, and Arizona he posted a passer rating between 61 and 83 and exceeded 200 yards only one time. Those teams rank top-10 in pass defense DVOA
Detroit's pass D has been exposed since teams stopped running it down their throats as they did earlier in the season. The secondary is star playmaker Darius Slay and everybody else.It ranks 31st in pass defense DVOA. bottom-five vs #1 #2 and other receivers and tight end, #20 vs running backs.
Bears have a lot of weapons who should have big games here: Miller, Robinson, Gabriel, Burton and Cohen.
The Bears faced three bottom-10 pass defenses. Trubisky produced a 122 rating against Miami and over 148 against both Tampa Bay and Detroit.
The Lions' run defense has improved strongly since Damon Harrison arrived. A'Shawn Robinson has also been effective. In the last three games, teams' running play frequency has dropped about six percent and YPC by .9 percent. They just limited a high-caliber Carolina rush attack to 3.5 YPC. They contained Cam in the pocket, who still threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns.
So it will be crucial to consider the health of Trubisky as well as that of Harrison and Robinson, both of whom are listed as questionable in this short week. If their health is affected, I see Chicago's run game opening up in support of its pass attack. If Trubisky can't go, then may God be with Chase Daniels.
I see Detroit's offense as being in trouble. Kerryon Johnson is out. That leaves Riddick who averages 3.3 YPC and Blount who averages 2.3 YPC behind an o-line that ranks 20th in power success rate and 19th in stuff rate against a Chicago d-line that ranks second in power success rate, 15th in stuff rate, and #1 in opposing YPC.
Without a running game, Stafford will be throwing and throwing and throwing. Can you say: Khalil Mack sack prop? Chicago ranks ninth in adjusted sack rate and should have a field-day against pass-heavy Detroit. Chicago's number one pass defense may also benefit from the injury to Marvin Jones, who is listed as questionable, and the departure of Golden Tate. That would leave Chicago to focus on Kenny Golladay, whose target-to-catch ration was below average against the Bears on November 11.
Stafford did absolutely nothing that game on November 11. 274 yards on 42 attempts, two touchdowns and two interceptions. But both of those touchdowns came when down 34-10 with less than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Bears have the fourth-best pass defense DVOA.
In terms of whom the situation favors, I see it as being rather up in the air.
Bears coming off emotional primetime win against Vikings. Travel to a team that they soundly beat just a couple weeks ago. Maybe they take things lightly.
Lions coming off upset win at home.
Much is being made of Chicago's historically quick turnaround, but for god's sakes it's seven fewer hours than Detroit. Seven. And Chicago to Detroit is not exactly London or San Diego.
So match-up wise, Chicago seems to be clear-cut. But injury questions of Trubisky and Harrison/Robinson and uncertainty surrounding the situation beg me to pause.
Trubisky had a rough start for which I partly blame his youth, the new coaching staff (Nagy and Helfrich), and the new plethora of weapons.
But he has actually been very consistent in the following sense:
Against Seattle, Green Bay, Buffalo, Minnesota, and Arizona he posted a passer rating between 61 and 83 and exceeded 200 yards only one time. Those teams rank top-10 in pass defense DVOA
Detroit's pass D has been exposed since teams stopped running it down their throats as they did earlier in the season. The secondary is star playmaker Darius Slay and everybody else.It ranks 31st in pass defense DVOA. bottom-five vs #1 #2 and other receivers and tight end, #20 vs running backs.
Bears have a lot of weapons who should have big games here: Miller, Robinson, Gabriel, Burton and Cohen.
The Bears faced three bottom-10 pass defenses. Trubisky produced a 122 rating against Miami and over 148 against both Tampa Bay and Detroit.
The Lions' run defense has improved strongly since Damon Harrison arrived. A'Shawn Robinson has also been effective. In the last three games, teams' running play frequency has dropped about six percent and YPC by .9 percent. They just limited a high-caliber Carolina rush attack to 3.5 YPC. They contained Cam in the pocket, who still threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns.
So it will be crucial to consider the health of Trubisky as well as that of Harrison and Robinson, both of whom are listed as questionable in this short week. If their health is affected, I see Chicago's run game opening up in support of its pass attack. If Trubisky can't go, then may God be with Chase Daniels.
I see Detroit's offense as being in trouble. Kerryon Johnson is out. That leaves Riddick who averages 3.3 YPC and Blount who averages 2.3 YPC behind an o-line that ranks 20th in power success rate and 19th in stuff rate against a Chicago d-line that ranks second in power success rate, 15th in stuff rate, and #1 in opposing YPC.
Without a running game, Stafford will be throwing and throwing and throwing. Can you say: Khalil Mack sack prop? Chicago ranks ninth in adjusted sack rate and should have a field-day against pass-heavy Detroit. Chicago's number one pass defense may also benefit from the injury to Marvin Jones, who is listed as questionable, and the departure of Golden Tate. That would leave Chicago to focus on Kenny Golladay, whose target-to-catch ration was below average against the Bears on November 11.
Stafford did absolutely nothing that game on November 11. 274 yards on 42 attempts, two touchdowns and two interceptions. But both of those touchdowns came when down 34-10 with less than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Bears have the fourth-best pass defense DVOA.
In terms of whom the situation favors, I see it as being rather up in the air.
Bears coming off emotional primetime win against Vikings. Travel to a team that they soundly beat just a couple weeks ago. Maybe they take things lightly.
Lions coming off upset win at home.
Much is being made of Chicago's historically quick turnaround, but for god's sakes it's seven fewer hours than Detroit. Seven. And Chicago to Detroit is not exactly London or San Diego.
So match-up wise, Chicago seems to be clear-cut. But injury questions of Trubisky and Harrison/Robinson and uncertainty surrounding the situation beg me to pause.
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Maybe we will reach a breakthrough in discussion or somebody else will profit from the info in here somehow.
