Chicago Bears: 5 Reasons Why the Bears Will Hand Detroit Its First Loss

The Chicago Bears (2-2) will be visiting the Detroit Lions (4-0) in Week 5, and the Lions should be prepared to be upset.

Even though the Lions are out to an undefeated start, the Chicago Bears can never be counted out. Neither team has played convincingly well, even if the Lions have yet to lose.

The Chicago Bears have many issues on offense, but with each week they are figuring things out.

This Chicago Bears team went to the NFC championship last season, so we all know they can turn it on at any second. It is just about finding that groove.

In Week 5, the Chicago Bears should have everything figured out, and they will get this team rolling with their first big win of the season over the undefeated Detroit Lions.

Here are five reasons why.

Matt Forte

I think everyone in Chicago was confused when Mike Martz only handed Matt Forte the ball nine times against the Green Bay Packers.

In that game, Forte gained a total of two yards. No reason to re-read that. Yep, it was just two for the Bears' primary back.

Things looked much different against the Carolina Panthers.

Forte exploded for 205 yards on 25 attempts. Forte only got in the end zone once, but expect him to continue to get the touches at the goal line.

The Bears have figured out that Forte is their best option, especially considering their weakness at wide receiver. The Bears will find a way to keep Forte moving on the ground, but also to expose his great hands in the passing game.

The Lions are ranked 19th in the league, allowing 113 yards on the ground per game. Expect Forte to continue not only on the ground, but in the passing game as well.

The Defense and Special Teams

The Chicago defense has not looked pretty in the last two weeks.

The Packers were no surprise (392 total yards), but it was the Carolina Panthers and their electrifying offense that shocked the Chicago Bears for 543 total yards.

The Bears defense has a reputation though, and they likely feel embarrassed for what they let up in front of their home crowd.

The Lions will unfortunately receive the backlash of this.

The Bears have been letting up a lot of passing yardage, but they are also smart veterans. Expect the secondary to focus on Calvin Johnson.

If the Bears can shut down Megatron, the Bears will shut down the Lions.

Chicago's pass rush will take care of Matthew Stafford, as they have in the past. Also, Jahvid Best is not a huge worry for Chicago.

Best has yet to put up big yardage, and he is arguably the least-talented back the Bears will face thus far.

As for special teams, that all depends on if the Lions kick to Devin Hester. Hester has once again shown why he is most effective returning kicks, and expect him to do what he can to score if the Lions dare kick to him.

The Bears Will Be Balanced on Offense

In the NFL, you do not win regularly relying on the pass (unless you are Tom Brady or Peyton Manning). Especially when your quarterback is Jay Cutler and your offensive coordinator is Mike Martz.

Those two things, combined with a questionable receiving corps, is just asking for interceptions and mistakes.

When the Bears balance their attack, they are a much better team. That is because it gives them options.

In Week 2 against the Saints, the Bears threw the ball 45 times compared to only 10 times on the ground. They lost that game 30-13.

Against the Packers, Jay Cutler threw the ball for 307 yards on 21-of-31 attempts. They ran the ball only nine times for two yards. The Bears only lost this game by 10 points, and perhaps the picture would have been different if the Bears didn't become so obvious with their passing game.

In that game, Cutler was picked off twice, not to anyone's surprise, but perhaps it could have been avoided if the Bears didn't become so obvious on offense.

In Week 4, the Bears ran the ball with Forte 25 times versus Cutler passing the ball only 15. 

While the Bears won, they still need to get those two numbers closer. The Detroit Lions have a great defensive line, so the Bears will need to find ways to expose it.

Making the attack balanced, the Lions will be back on their heels. They will be expecting the Bears to rely on Forte, but the Bears should rely on both their offensive threats.

Cutler can throw the ball as well as anyone else in the NFL, so the Bears have to let him get out there and make his passes. They just have to make sure it isn't so obvious every single down.

The Coaching

While I don't think Mike Martz has been calling anything close to an effective offensive game plan, one thing is for sure.

Lovie Smith won't let up a lead.

The Detroit Lions have won two of their four games coming back from major deficits.

The Chicago Bears defense knows when to turn it on to high voltage, and they will not allow themselves to give up a lead like other teams have thus far.

After what this Chicago Bears team had been through last year and the few years before that, don't expect them to sit back once they build a lead.

Lovie Smith, although always quiet, knows how to keep things going. He will not allow his team to break down like others have against the Detroit Lions.

If the Bears get a lead going, don't expect them to let the Lions to do anything.

Recent History Is on Their Side

The Chicago Bears haven't lost to the Lions since 2008.

This Lions squad is ultimately the same as last year, considering the Bears did play them with Matthew Stafford before he got hurt.

Stafford did get hurt towards the end of that first game, and it was the one that involved the controversial Calvin Johnson touchdown that didn't count because he put the ball down too soon.

The Lions have definitely been getting closer and closer each year, and they have done their job to prove they are a true team to beat so far this season.

Their wins haven't been convincing though, even as dramatic as they were. They were down against mediocre squads like the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys.

History will expose the Lions this week though, as they won't be able to get by the Bears or come back late as they have lately.