Thread: Bears can't beat Patriots this week, but they can lose to the Lions

Bears can't beat Patriots this week, but they can lose to the Lions

• <LI class=relatedTitle>Matt Bowen
• 

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Matt Bowen Scouting the Bears December 1, 2010



The Bears are the talk of the NFL after their win over the Eagles. Jay Cutler played like the franchise quarterback he was advertised to be and that Bears' defense made Michael Vick look human. Words such as "blueprint" are being thrown around to discuss Lovie Smith's defensive game plan that slowed down the league's most exciting quarterback.

That happens when you win a big game and sit atop the NFC North standings at 8-3.

Up next — a week before Tom Brady and the Patriots come to town — are the 2-9 Lions, the team the Bears were fortunate to beat in the season opener. Their franchise quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is out again with an injury. April's draft, the 2011 season and free agency … those are the hot topics in Detroit because these Lions are an NFL afterthought.

It's a game the Bears are expected to win. Fly in to Detroit, take care of the Lions, move to 9-3 and get ready for New England. Start to your game planning for Brady and the late afternoon kickoff that is reserved for top teams, playoff teams.


That is the big game, right?

It is hard for players to ignore the hype. They read the papers. They see the headlines. I did. Every player in this league does.

But the veteran players in the Bears' locker room can't allow that to be a distraction. Olin Kreutz, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs have to treat this week and the game prep for Detroit the same way they did against the Eagles. It will be a challenge to not look ahead to playing Brady and Bill Belichick at Soldier Field. It is easy to get up emotionally for those marquee matchups.

Players have to focus, grind through film and treat the Lions as the most important team on the schedule. It's the only game the Bears can win on Sunday, certainly the only one they can lose. Don't break routine. Above all, don't relax. That gets you beat in the NFL.

The Bears know the Lions, from schemes to personnel. But it goes both ways. Jim Schwartz's club will know exactly how to attack the Bears defense, where to make a play against Cutler and the offense. Regardless of their records, division games on the road are hard to win. That's the NFL.

Take care of the Lions first. We can all build up Bears-Patriots come Monday. Before they get there, this team has to make the trip to Detroit and take care of its business, because that is what playoff teams do in games they are supposed to win.