It will be a divisional matchup between the NFC North rivals Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears from Soldier Field.
Detroit will be looking to rebound from last week’s loss to the Oakland Raiders, a setback that dealt a serious blow to their already slim playoff hopes. But one member of the team did his part, as he has all season.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford turned in another strong performance, throwing three touchdowns with 406 yards, the third straight game he threw for over 340 yards with at least three touchdowns.
“I’ve always had the ultimate respect for Matt Stafford,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said during a conference call with reporters in Detroit on Tuesday. “Some of the throws that he’s made over his career are just ridiculous. I mean there are not many players in the NFL that can make the side-arm throws that he does on the run, running left throwing right, just putting it where no one else can get it. He’s tough, he’s a competitor, and when he’s back there at the quarterback position, he’s scary because he can make any throw and you always have a chance with him.
“You take that and you combine these wide receivers that he has, so anybody that’s a hell of a quarterback like he is that has weapons at the wide receiver and tight end position, they’re always going to have success. You see that right now. They’re aggressive in the pass game, they’re taking shots — a lot of deep balls — and it’s definitely a cause for concern.”
Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky hasn’t enjoyed the same success, completing 136 of 216 passes for 1,217 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions in seven starts this year.
