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Chicago Bears: Lions pose tougher matchup than presumed in Week 4Ryan Tayloron September 29, 2021 at 12:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

There’s no getting around that. The team just produced one of the worst offensive performances in the organization’s history — highlighted by the fact that they gained one net passing yard.

Analyzing the Bears’ first three weeks, the team has had a rough schedule. Fans knew going into the season that the squad has the third hardest strength of schedule in the NFL, but it’s shown.

The Rams, Bengals and Browns are not the most ideal teams to face during an uncertain period emphasized by offensive line injuries, quarterback question marks, and defensive scares.

?: NFL Week 4 preview: Bears SHOULD have easy win over 0-3 Lions https://t.co/VETo9JLvTL

— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) September 28, 2021

Week four is supposed to provide a chance for the Bears to breathe with the Lions on the docket.

However, should fans be so certain the Bears could pick up an “easy win” against the Lions?

Similar to the Bears, the Lions have started their season with a difficult schedule. They faced the 49ers, Packers and Ravens over their first three games.

And within those games, they’ve fought well.

The 49ers have an above-average defense in the league, holding their opponents to an average of 24.7 points per game this season and 24.4 last season, which ranks around average in the league.

The Lions have a notoriously dismantled offense led by Jared Goff, a new head coach and the loss of their two best receivers (Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr.). Yet, Detroit put up 33 points on the 49ers in week one.

In week two against the Packers, the Lions went into half winning the game 17-14. Two costly turnovers in the second half opened up the floodgates for the Packers. But again, the Lions created over 350 yards of offense and at one point competed.

Last week’s game against the Ravens may have been their most impressive performance thus far. Only losing by two points, the Lions kept last season’s 11th best offense to just 19 points. They averaged 27.7 last season.

The defense was outstanding for Detroit. They held the Ravens to 116 team rushing yards, which may not seem like a win, but the Ravens produced the most per game in the NFL last season with 185.6 yards on the ground.

Outside of a missed delay of game call — that would have set the Ravens up for a 71-yard field goal and not the 66-yarder Justin Tucker banged home to win the game and set a new NFL record — the Lions can compete.

Jared Goff is doing well enough, whether or not you believe it. He is completing 70 percent of his passes and is ranked above average in passing yards and touchdowns. The Lions’ 10th ranked PFF offensive line is benefitting him.

The Lions have also flashed some defensive highlights. Amani Oruwariye has stepped up in place of the Lions’ former third overall pick, Jeff Okudah, who went down with a season-ending injury. The Lions are currently rank10th in the NFL in sacks per game with 2.7 sacks.

Remember last year? The Bears lost to the Lions in early December thinking they had an easy win notched ahead of them. Two late touchdowns from Jones Jr. and Adrian Peterson proved otherwise. The Bears gave the Lions one of their five wins last season.

Next: Chicago Bears: Why Justin Fields deserves zero blame for Week 3 loss

The bottom line is that the Bears won’t have a walk in the park next week. The Lions have been playing well, despite their record having a zero in the win column.

What would a loss mean for the Bears? Some suggest a possible first-time-ever firing of a Bears head coach mid-season. Who knows what could happen? Let’s just say Sunday could hold some weight on the future of the organization.