By Dean Michaels, NFL Writer

NFL 2013 Week 10 Preview: Lions vs Bears

With first place on the line in the NFC North, the Chicago Bears host the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. The Bears, Lions and Packers are 5-and-3 overall and are all 2-1 in division play.

The Lions and Bears meet for the 168th time in the historic rivalry that dates back to 1930. Chicago owns a 96-66-5 (.596) advantage in their series with Detroit, including 54-24-4 at home.

The Lions won the first meeting of the season with the Bears, 40-32, at Ford Field. The Bears defeated the Packers, 27-20, at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Lions, 22-9, in Week 5 at Green Bay. All three teams have defeated the Vikings (1-7).

In Week 4, the Lions knocked off the Bears 40-32 thanks in large part to a 27-point second quarter by the Lions offense. Lions RB Reggie Bush combined for 173 total yards (139 rushing, 34 receiving) and one rushing touchdown. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler committed four turnovers.

The Lions open the second half of the NFL 2013 season coming out of the bye week after a dramatic come-from-behind victory 31-30 over the Dallas Cowboys.

Detroit drove 80 yards in the final minute of the game against the Cowboys to pull off an improbable victory. Lions QB Matthew Stafford connected on three passes on the final drive. Stafford took advantage the Cowboys' mental mistake diving across the goal line for the game-winning touchdown run with 12 seconds remaining on the clock. Lions WR Calvin Johnson compiled a franchise-high 329 receiving yards on 14 catches, two of which came on Detroit's final drive.

The Bears are coming off a 27-20 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football.

The Bears offense racked up 442 yards of offense and did not commit a turnover, while the defense generated a takeaway and five sacks, including one that knocked Packers starting QB Aaron Rodgers out of the game on the game's opening drive.

Rodgers was replaced by Seneca Wallace, who completed 11 of 19 passes for 114 yards with no touchdowns and one interception for a 53.4 passer rating.

Starting in place of the injured QB Jay Cutler, Josh McCown connected on 22 of 41 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 90.7 rating. WR Brandon Marshall caught seven passes for 107 yards and 1 touchdown, while Matt Forte rushed for 125 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries and caught five passes for 54 yards.

Prediction

The Bears have won five straight against the visiting Lions at Soldier Field and nine of the last 11 games between the two rivals.

Jay Cutler returns after a one-game absence. Cutler has played well this season under first-year head coach Marc Trestman and his west-coast offense. The defense hopes to build upon the strong pass rush that helped the Bears beat the Packers on Monday night.

However, the Lions offense has been one of the best this season. The Lions rank third in total offense (416 yards per game) and Stafford is averaging of 318 passing yards per game, second-best in the NFL

Offensively, the Bears offense is capable of keeping up with the Lions. However, is the Bears defense capable of containing Matthew Stafford, Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson?

If Cutler has a solid game and the Lions pass rush is held at bay, expect an entertaining back-and-forth offensive battle that will most likely come down to the final drive of the game. If Cutler is forced out of the pocket and pressured consistently, then it's an entirely different story.

Either way, the Lions come out the victor.

 

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NFL 2013 Week 10 Preview - Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears