Lions vs Bears Preview – Week 2 Must Win?
Lions vs. Bears: Ford Field Demands a Response
The beauty — and cruelty — of football is that redemption always has to wait a week. Detroit has lived with its opening-day flop in Green Bay long enough. The city is wondering, was last week a fluke, growing pains due to new coordinators, or something else more concerning? Now, the Lions come home. And Ford Field won’t be patient. After a flat 27-13 loss to the Packers, after a game plan that looked stuck in neutral, the crowd expects more than grit. They want imagination. They want urgency. They want a team that doesn’t just survive, but attacks.
The opponent? The Chicago Bears, licking their own wounds after a Monday-night collapse against Minnesota. They led by 11, lost by three, and now face a short turnaround on the road. Add in the Ben Johnson wrinkle — the Lions’ former offensive coordinator now running Chicago — and the stage is set for a game that will reveal more about Detroit than any box score from Week 1 ever could. The game isn’t a must-win, but it sure feels like it.
Looking Back to Move Forward
- Detroit at Green Bay: The Packers jumped ahead and never looked back. The Lions averaged just 3.8 yards per play, failed to establish the run, and didn’t score a touchdown until the game’s final minutes. The offensive line cracked, Jared Goff was hurried, and the play-calling drew boos even from living rooms across Michigan. The defense wasn’t much better, recording zero sacks and allowing Jordan Love to sit comfortably in the pocket.
- Chicago vs. Minnesota (MNF): The Bears dominated the first half, then wilted late. Rookie QB J.J. McCarthy rallied the Vikings with 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points. For Chicago, it wasn’t just a loss — it was a lesson in how quickly confidence can evaporate. Caleb Williams and company looked like they had the game going away…until they didn’t. That’s today’s NFL.
Injury Report: Who’s In, Who’s Out
Detroit Lions
- LT Taylor Decker (shoulder) — Questionable. If he can’t go, rookie Giovanni Manu gets the nod.
- S Kerby Joseph (knee) — Questionable.
- CB Terrion Arnold (groin) — Limited but optimistic.
- RB Sione Vaki (hamstring) — Doubtful.
- LB Trevor Nowaske (elbow) — Out.
Chicago Bears
- CB Kyler Gordon (hamstring) — Out.
- DT Grady Jarrett (knee) — Questionable.
- WR Jahdae Walker (ankle) — Doubtful.
- CB Jaylon Johnson, LB T.J. Edwards, WR DJ Moore — Cleared to play.
Coaching Crossroads
John Morton was criticized for a conservative game plan in Green Bay. Expect more motion, misdirection, and vertical shots to loosen the defense. Kelvin Sheppard’s defense had zero sacks; that must change against rookie QB Caleb Williams. And Dan Campbell knows Ford Field demands fire from the opening drive.
I didn’t expect the coordinator changes to go smoothly, but I wasn’t prepared for what we saw in Green Bay. It felt like the team we’ve watched over the past 2.5 years went on hiatus, and an imposter version of the Lions replaced them. That has to change this week.
Players Who Could Change the Story
- Isaac Tesia — Big body who can draw attention, and create space for St. Brown.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown — With Gordon out, he should feast in the slot.
- Jameson Williams — Time for some deep shots, even if incomplete, to stretch the field.
- Aidan Hutchinson — The defense needs him to finish plays, not just pressure.
Vegas Says…
Detroit is a 6-point favorite. Over/under sits around 46.5–47.5. Analysts expect a Lions bounce-back, but spreads don’t block or tackle — this comes down to execution.
The Stakes and the Story
This isn’t just about avoiding 0-2. It’s about re-establishing belief. Ford Field will boo if it must, roar if it can. The Lions don’t need perfection. They just need to show they’re willing to take the fight to the Bears, not wait for it to come to them.
I expect there may be a few wrinkles in the game plan that weren’t in the opener. For one, there needs to be more play-action, one of Jared Goff’s strengths. He may not be a threat to run with the ball, but his use of play action keeps the defense at bay and gives time for the receivers to get open.
Finally, if Detroit can’t contain Caleb Williams, it will be a very tough day for the Lions. Mobile quarterbacks have had great success against the Lions, even during their unlikely turnaround from a few years ago. If there’s one thing the Lions need to do, it’s keep Williams in check; otherwise, it will be a long day for the fans at Ford Field.
Prediction
Detroit leans on St. Brown, sprinkles in Tesia, and finally takes shots to Jameson Williams. The defense shows more bite, forcing at least one mistake. The Bears will be hungry after the tough loss to Minnesota, and they will hang around, and I have a feeling that they are going to pull our a win this week. The mobility of Williams is going to be a problem for the Lions, and in the end, a reminder of why the Bears drafted him number one.
Final Score: Bears 30, Lions 24
