5 Players Detroit Lions Must Keep in Check to Grab 1st Win Against Bears

How long can this go on?

The Detroit Lions are still the only team without a win in the NFL. The Chicago Bears—this week's opponent and the NFC North's preseason punching bag—already have two wins, including one on the road.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers start a rookie quarterback. They figured out how to notch a pair of victories.

But not the Lions.

They'll try to end the streak this week, but the Bears have a few players who will surely stand in Detroit's way. And in keeping with the theme of the season, it's likely the Lions will have to overcome a few of their own as well.

RB Matt Forte

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

The rumors of a defensive revival in Detroit—particularly when including DeAndre Levy's hip surgery—weren't just greatly exaggerated; they were fabricated. The Arizona Cardinals were able to average 7.5 yards per carry after a few turnovers sparked their cause.

Now that beat-up and beaten-down defense has to slow down the league's leading rusher: Matt Forte.

The Bears' longtime tailback has racked up 438 yards. That's with two games of Jimmy Clausen serving as the starting quarterback. During that time, Clausen couldn't even muster 100 passing yards per game.

Plus, fantasy players and presumably professional defenses are well aware of Forte's prowess (102 receptions last season) in the passing game. Meanwhile, Detroit will again be missing its top coverage linebacker.

Chicago's offense isn't great, but it has one player who can decimate even the greatest defensive game plan, meaning defensive coordinator Teryl Austin will need some help this week.

RB Ameer Abdullah

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Ameer Abdullah was supposed to be part of an offense full of scheme-wreckers. Instead, he spent the majority of the Arizona game on the bench after two fumbles.

That won't stop the Lions from feeding him to the—excuse me, feeding him carries against the Bears. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi still believes his second-round back can carry the load, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, although it remains to be seen if Lombardi will use him properly:

"

So I think that you kind of trust that he's going to keep working on it and get better. And listen, at some point if it continues to be a problem, certainly there may be some drastic steps have to be taken as far as limiting carries or those kinds of things. But I think you've got to trust that he's going to get it fixed, at this point anyway.

"

Abdullah's electricity has been limited to small sparks since that exciting night against the Jets. Detroit needs him to find a consistent groove behind an offensive line that can't aid the cause.

Obviously, it's the right move. Abdullah can be a matchup nightmare for opponents when given the ball in space.

But he must keep the ball close and tight. No running back is worth multiple fumbles.

WR Alshon Jeffery

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Detroit hasn't found a way to handle any brand of receiver.

The 6'3" Demaryius Thomas' (nine receptions for 92 yards and a TD) owning of Darius Slay on Sunday night was a win for the big, physical type. The 5'10" John Brown's (four receptions for 73 yards and a TD) scorching of Slay down the sideline and the 5'11" Emmanuel Sanders' (six receptions for 87 yards) jump-ball domination prove the smaller type can find success against Detroit's secondary too.

And Keenan Allen {6'2"), who is more of a hybrid, piled up 15 catches for 166 yards on the Lions.

Even worse, Detroit is dead last in quarterback rating allowed, allowing a mark (116.4) that is 7.5 points higher than that of the San Francisco 49ers.

None of that bodes well with Alshon Jeffery on the mend.

Chicago's strong and long (6'3") wideout with better-than-you think speed practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday. That will give a team that just won in Arrowhead—a place much scarier than Ford Field—another weapon against a reeling defense that gave up 47 points last Sunday.

QB Matthew Stafford

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

There was a time when the Lions could go as far as Matthew Stafford would take them. He was demonstrating a better grasp of the offense in the preseason and was ready to sling the ball in the same system that made Drew Brees famous.

Then the clock struck 2 a.m. on that notion, and fans were left looking though bleary eyes at mock drafts because anybody had to be better than "this bum."

That's a bridge too far. Yes, Stafford was yanked for the first time in his professional career last week after tossing three interceptions (although at least one of them was Calvin Johnson's fault), but Stafford is at least as good as Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Yet his erratic nature can't be ignored either. The league's leader in picks (eight) must make the throws that are there and avoid making the mistakes that put his defense in difficult positions last week.

LB Pernell McPhee

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Pernell McPhee is second among 3-4 outside linebackers in defensive stops (plays that constitute an offensive failure) with 14, per Pro Football Focus. He also has the fourth-highest pass-rushing productivity score at his position with 23 total pressures.

Basically, McPhee is capable of thwarting any play regardless of the offensive method chosen.

Detroit hasn't had any luck keeping outside pass-rushers away from its quarterback. Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware combined for two sacks, three quarterback hits and 10 hurries. Everson Griffen and Brian Robison paired up for 12 quarterback pressures.

McPhee will certainly continue that tradition in some manner. He may not reach the same numbers, but he will require plenty of attention from Detroit's offensive tackles and tight end Brandon Pettigrew.

The latter will be the key here. He missed both of the games cited above, so perhaps his return can help ease this burden and make McPhee a speed bump on the road to victory instead of an insurmountable obstacle.

All advanced stats, grades and positional rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter @BrandonAlisoglu.