HALL WILL PLAY, BUT FULLER STILL UNSURE
Barkley is fourth signal- caller to face foe in last five games
The Bears are going from a Sunday snowstorm last week to the indoor comforts of Ford Field.
“Typically when you lay in your living room, the conditions are pretty much ideal,” John Fox said.
While we wonder about the square footage of the Bears coach’s den, here are 10 questions as the Bears prepare for the Lions:
1. Whoare these guys?
The Lions must be wondering. Quarterback Brian Hoyer, who went 28- for- 36 for 302 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears’ Week 4 win, is out for the season with a broken left arm. The Bears will be without four pass catchers Sunday — Kevin White ( injured reserve), Zach Miller ( IR), Alshon Jeffery ( suspension) and Eddie Royal ( doubtful) — who combined for 19 catches and 243 receiving yards in Week 4.
2. Another new QB?
Matt Barkley will be the fourth Bears starting quarterback the Lions have faced in their last five meetings. Jimmy Clausen started in Week 15 of 2014, Jay Cutler started twice last year and Hoyer won in Week 4.
3. And hewants to go fast?
Barkley heated up in the nohuddle two weeks ago and got on a roll on the last drive of the first half Sunday doing the same. So why not go fast all the time? “We believe philosophically in doing what our players do best,” offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. “So it’s obviously not just Matt. It’s the other guys around him, and obviously we’ve had a rotating door at wide receiver, at tight end, with getting those guys up to speed, getting them caught up with Matt. Because Matt is ready to have command of the no- huddle stuff, the two- minute stuff.”
4. Thanks, Carson Palmer?
“Seeing Carson work gave me a new perspective on what it means to be an NFL quarterback,” Barkley said of his 2015 stint with the Cardinals. “Coming from a vet with his experience and how he still works his butt off every day, harder than anyone else on the team, gave me a new perspective on the position and made me hungry to want to play.”
5. But the Lions’ QB is Captain Comeback?
Amazingly, Sunday marked the first game all season in which the Lions didn’t trail in the fourth quarter. Evenmore stunning: Theywere 7- 4 before the 28- 13 win against the Saints.
“I think it helps build confidence,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said of their fourth- quarter travails. “Anytime you’re successful in any situation, whether it’s coming from behind or being up and running the ball out or the defense making turnovers, the more often you do something that’s positive, you’re going to build momentum from it.”
6. Another sweep?
The Bears- Lions series has had a season sweep in 11 of the last 12 seasons. The Lions will try to force only the second season split since 2004.
7. Losing doesn’t feel good, right?
“It don’t matter if you’re a young guy or old guy. When you’re 3- 9, it tests your manhood, it tests your character, it tests reality and how you’re going to bounce back off it,” outside linebacker Pernell McPhee said. “I preach to the guys all the time: Don’t let our record define us.”
8. Wanna bet?
The Lions have won and covered the spread in each of their last five home games. They’re eight- point favorites against the Bears.
9. Wait, this is on CBS?
The NFL flexed the game from Fox, which typically airs games with NFC road teams, to CBS, which does AFC road games, to balance out the television schedule.
The flexing mechanism was put into place two years ago, and the Bears have been flexed to CBS three times: in 2014 against the Vikings and last year against the Rams.
10. Look up to Ziggy?
Paul Lasike has looked up to Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah since they went to BYU. Like the Ghanaian, who tried out for the Cougars basketball team and ran track before landing on the football team, the Bears’ Kiwi fullback took up the sport after playing rugby most of his life.
Ansah’s last season at BYU, 2012, was Lasike’s first. Ansah was held up as an example, and motivator, for Lasike.
“I remember having a couple conversations with him about learning the game,” he said. “Someone coming and learning the game, it’s not an easy task.”