Jeff Joniak's Keys to the Lions Game

Jeff Joniak, WBBM NewsRadio 780 Reporting

CHICAGO BEARS (2-2) DETROIT LIONS (0-3)

PRESSURE KITNA: Consistent pressure from the Bears front seven will allow the secondary to deal with Detroit’s top two weapons in receivers Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams.

Lions quarterback Jon Kitna is sacked a lot. He was dropped 115 times in the previous two seasons. The Bears dumped him six times in the first meeting at Ford Field last season. When Kitna has time to throw, he is a high percentage passer.

He completed 72 percent of his throws in the opening week loss to Atlanta. Kitna has thrown five interceptions and has been sacked 12 times in three games. Kitna is also the worst rated starting quarterback on third down in the league.

BEWARE OF THE RUN: First-year Lions offensive coordinator Jim Colletto – the former Purdue coach -- has implemented the Denver Bronco style zone-blocking scheme in Detroit.

However, in the first three games the Lions have dropped to throw 121 times and run it only 53 times.

They have also thrown the ball 30 more times than they have run the ball on first down. I have a feeling the Lions will switch it up in this meeting with the Bears.

Colletto has replaced rookie speedster Kevin Smith at running back with sledgehammer veteran Rudi Johnson for this game. Johnson has a nose for the end zone scoring 50 times in his career.

The Bears will need to be prepared for this 1-2 punch of power and speed.

ANOTHER QUICK START: A recipe for success for the Bears begins with a first possession touchdown by the offense. That is what happened last Sunday in the win over the Eagles.

An encore performance against a winless team backed into a corner will serve the Bears well. The Lions have been outscored 35-0 in the first quarter this season.

They also have given up at least 21 points in the first half of each of their three games. It is no doubt a big reason for their lack of commitment to the run game and exactly why the Bears need to strike quickly.

REV UP THE RUN GAME: After running into a wall against the Eagles last Sunday, this looks like a great opportunity for the Bears to crank up the rushing attack once again.

The Lions are giving up 207 yards rushing per game and 5.6 yards per carry. Both statistics rank last in the NFL.

Atlanta’s Michael Turner hit him hard for 200+ in the opener, which skews the numbers a bit, but it reflects a system wide failure defensively. The Lions are last in the NFL in nine different and significant categories including points allowed(37.6).

A steady diet of rookie Matt Forte’ complemented by former Lion Kevin Jones will lead the way.

CLOSE OUT THE BIG DRIVES: No team in the NFL has had more offensive possessions than the Bears with 53. They also have an impressive seven 10-play drives.

Like the Baltimore Ravens, the Bears have not scored a touchdown on any of those seven drives, either settling for field goals or turning the ball over.

The benefits of owning the clock loses the impact if the result is not a celebration in the end zone. If this occurs on the road, it magnifies the problem even more. Touchdowns over field goals need to be the message for the Bears offense in Detroit.

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