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Keys to the Game

Keys to the Game: 3 things that should help Bears beat Lions

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The Bears (4-7) will visit the Lions (10-1) on Thanksgiving Day at Ford Field in Detroit. Here are three things that should increase their chances of winning:

(1) Contain the explosive Lions offense.

The Bears have won their last four Thanksgiving games — three in Detroit and one in Green Bay — but extending that streak won't be easy against a Lions team that boasts a 10-1 record and has won nine straight contests for the first time since 1934.

Detroit leads the NFL in scoring with 32.7 points per game and has produced 52 points in each of its last two home games, outscoring the Titans and Jaguars by a combined 104-20. The offense is led by quarterback Jared Goff, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta, receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and one of the league's best offensive lines.

"What can I say about this offense?" said defensive coordinator Eric Washington. "Very prolific. They've got the quarterback; veteran player has seen everything that you could possibly throw at him. This offense is fueled by a very strong and productive rushing attack, two great players who are heading that charge.

"The offensive line is a veteran group, and they're really adept at blocking the run concepts that they will feature. The receiving corps, extremely dynamic, great speed, individuals that can stretch the field. Also have players who do a good job as possession players underneath to provide reliable targets for the quarterback, and the backs are also targeted in the passing game.

"So we're going to have to do a really good job of making sure that we defend the run, attack the line of scrimmage, create negative plays and put this team in third-and-7-plus situations. That's our formula. We're going to continue to work and tweak this formula until we get it the way we know we are capable of."

The Lions are the only NFL team with three players who have scored at least eight TDs: Gibbs (11), Montgomery (11) and St. Brown (9). The league's most productive backfield tandem, Gibbs and Montgomery this year have become the first NFL teammates to both rush for at least 10 TDs in back-to-back seasons.

"There's a lot of good things they've been doing, and the No. 1 thing is they've been able to establish the run with the 1-2 punch," said coach Matt Eberflus. "That's what they really rely on, their offensive line and that running game. It's going to be a very big task for all 11 of us out there on the field and we have to do a great job with that."

The Bears were inside the Walter Payton Center Tuesday to continue their preparation for their Thanksgiving matchup with the Detroit Lions.

(2) Continue to show progress on offense.

The Bears have excelled in Thomas Brown's two games as their play caller, averaging 23.0 points and 394.5 total yards against the Packers and Vikings after averaging 9.0 points and 230.0 yards in their previous three contests.

Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has excelled in those two games, completing 55 of 78 passes for 571 yards with two TDs, no turnovers and a 99.9 passer rating.

Asked what has stood out about Williams the past two weeks, tight end Cole Kmet said: "For me, it's the confidence in the huddle. That's been the main thing. For me, that really stands out. He understands and knows what the play call is, it gets in quickly and you get to the line of scrimmage, he's able to make checks if necessary and able to read out the defensive play fast.

"He's just been able to get into a flow much better and as a result we've been able to convert more first downs and get drives going and get everyone involved from there. It's been cool to see those two, between Thomas and Caleb, work together the past couple of weeks. I know they want to keep elevating and keep going."

The Bears will face a Lions defense that ranks second in the NFL in points per game (16.6) and has not allowed a touchdown in its last 10 quarters.

"These guys are tough," Brown said. "They're violent. They are an in-your-face bunch. They kind of challenge you. They make it difficult because they are one of those teams that they will present non-normal matches. Normally you get to 11 personnel (one running back and one tight end), you get nickel or maybe bronco personnel, so you're keeping still five DBs on the grass. [But] they'll play you in base which makes it harder to run the ball against."

The Lions defense ranks 12th in total yards, fifth against the run and 25th versus the pass. Since losing star defensive end Aiden Hutchinson to a season-ending injury in Week 6, Detroit is averaging only 1.7 sacks per game.

Bears players, coaches and staff sported special footwear for the team's My Cause My Cleats game Thanksgiving Day against the Lions. Take an exclusive look at the custom shoes, which were created to support a charitable organization of each person's choice, as well as some of the players and staff posting with their shoes.

(3) Generate a consistent pass rush.

Goff is playing at an exceptionally high level. He leads the NFL in yards per attempt (9.0) and his 125.0 passer rating since Week 3 is second in the league to the Ravens' Lamar Jackson (126.7).

"He's getting the ball out of his hand," Washington said. "The passing game is really controlled. They push it down the field some, but they do a great job of getting the football out of his hand so that he doesn't have to hold it for an extended period of time.

"Like all veteran quarterbacks, he has a really good idea of what you're doing. He's a smart player. He's seen a lot of defenses, a lot of coverage concepts. He understands the leverage of the defenders. That gives him some information so he's able to manage the game and to work this offense to perfection and also he's very selfless. For a guy that has had a lot of success as a gunslinger, he doesn't mind utilizing the rushing attack to help him."

Producing multiple takeaways Thursday no doubt would improve the Bears' chances of defeating the Lions. In two games between the teams last year, Goff committed six turnovers, throwing five interceptions and losing one fumble.

The Bears' front four increased the pressure it generated last Sunday, registering 3.0 sacks of the Vikings' Sam Darnold and nine quarterback hits.

"It was really good to see that," Eberflus said. "We put emphasis on it to the guys. We did the drill work, and the guys did a really good job. We talk four equals one in terms of working off each other, and that's how you do it with a four-man rush.

"A lot of those things are natural, not even games that you set up. They just really happen naturally but playing off each other. The guys did a really good job with that, and they've got to continue to do that. We rotate a lot of guys in there, so it's working with each other, the man next to you, and of course we do have stunts and pressures and all those things, too, but I thought they did a really nice job creating that pressure."

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