NFL Picks Week 5: Will Detroit Lions' Mojo Fizzle out Agianst Chicago Bears?

The Detroit Lions are certainly the biggest surprise of the 2011 NFL season. They are currently 4-0, and are one of just two undefeated teams left in the league.

Though their schedule has certainly not been taxing, this Monday night they welcome an enigmatic Chicago Bears team to town in what could be Detroit's first true test of the season.

The Lions snuck by a solid Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in Week 1 27-20, but were then fed a terrible Kansas City squad in Week 2. They took advantage, burying the Chiefs 48-3. Then Detroit struggled mightily to beat the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3, finally winning 26-23 in overtime. This past Sunday the Lions should have suffered their first defeat, but Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo saw to it that Detroit remained undefeated.

At one point the Cowboys led 27-3, then Romo had two interceptions returned for touchdowns, and things just unraveled from there for Dallas. Romo threw three picks in all and essentially handed the game to Detroit on a silver platter.

Don't get me wrong, the Lions still had to earn all of those wins, which is easier said than done, but they have not looked as invincible as their 4-0 record sounds.

One area for concern is Detroit's rushing attack, which ranks 29th in the NFL, averaging just 74.5 yards per game. Jahvid Best, Keiland Williams and Jerome Harrison all need to do what they can to get the running game moving, or teams will start to relentlessly blitz quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The Bears will arrive in Detroit fresh off a 34-29 nail-biter against the Carolina Panthers. The 2-2 Bears have at times looked dangerous, but can't seem to find any consistency. Quarterback Jay Cutler has been under near-constant pressure and has been sacked 15 times this season so far, and the team's offensive line remains one of the worst in all of football.

The Lions possess the league's seventh-best passing attack (301.3 yards per game), while the Bears rank 29th in pass defense (301.5 yards per game), which doesn't bode well for Chicago.

While the Bears are struggling to find consistency, the Lions seem to have dialed in to a winning formula. I don't see that changing in Week 5. Detroit hasn't proven itself to be a legit contender yet, but on Monday night the Lions should improve to 5-0.