Mark Potash
Chicago Bears reporter
Mark Potash covers the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Bent on redemption after collapsing in a 31-26 loss to the Lions at Ford Field on Nov. 19 — “the worst feeling after a loss we’ve had, ” safety Eddie Jackson said — the Bears’ defense has a chance to get it right and make a statement against a playoff-bound team.
Defensive end Montez Sweat and the Bears’ invigorated defensive front face another challenge against right tackle Penei Sewell and the Lions’ offensive line. Can the Bears sustain their takeaway excellence — eight in the last two games?
The best kicker in franchise history, who announced his retirement Thursday, has a special connection with Chicago that goes beyond his 11-year stint with the Bears. He gets it. He gets Bears fans. And he gets what it means to be a Bear.
The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ game against the Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field.
The Bears are in line to have options at quarterback in the 2024 draft, but Fields said his faith in God is all he needs. “If I’m here next year [or] if I’m not, football doesn’t define who I am as a person. My happiness will still be in the same place ... will still be in God.”
Coming off a 12-10 victory over the Vikings in which his offense did not score a touchdown, the Bears’ offensive coordinator needs to prove “we’re in the process of building something special” — as he said when the Bears were 0-3 — in the final five regular-season games of the 2023 season.
Sunday’s game against Detroit is a chance to atone for a 31-26 loss on Nov. 27 at Ford Field — when the Bears led 26-14 with 4:15 left, but allowed two touchdown drives to mar what had been an encouraging performance. “You can feel a motivation and optimism,” coach Matt Eberflus said.
A look at what’s at stake for Matt Eberflus, Justin Fields, Ryan Poles and more over rest of the season.
The Bears cornerback needs to make the most of his big-play chances to be as good as he thinks he is. But just having those opportunities in recent games is an indication that as Matt Eberflus’ improving defense grows, Johnson’s impact will increase as well.