Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: 6 Players to Watch Monday Night

This Monday, the Detroit Lions will have the chance to improve to 5-0 and make their case to the nation why they are the NFL's best. To do this, the Lions need to get through last season's NFC North champion, the Chicago Bears. The Lions and the Bears have met just four times on Monday night. The Detroit Lions have dominated these games, outscoring the Chicago Bears 116-54 and leads the series 3-1. Their most recent matchup was a 27-7 Detroit Lions victory back in 1995. 

Sixteen years later, the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions get the opportunity to meet again on Monday Night Football.

This year, the Detroit Lions are coming in as the hottest team in the league, currently on an eight-game regular season win streak, the longest active in the NFL. These wins have not come easily though, as the Lions have been outscored by opponents 40-3 in the first half the past two weeks. The Detroit Lions will need to play four quarters of football against a very tough NFC North division rival.

Here is a look at six players who will need to have big nights for their team to come away with the victory.

Matt Forte

Through the first three weeks of the season, Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte was held to just 119 yards on the ground. The Chicago Bears were 1-2 during this time. Last week, however, Matt Forte exploded for 205 yards rushing and an impressive 8.2 yards per carry. The Chicago Bears have discovered that if they want to win, they need to run the ball well. 

The Detroit Lions defense is coming into this week ranked 20th in rushing yards allowed, 23rd in yards per carry allowed and 25th in rushing plays allowed over 20 yards. They have struggled greatly to slow down the rushing attack.

If the Chicago Bears want to win, they will need to establish a ground game with Matt Forte early and often. Giving the ball to Forte will wear down the Detroit Lions defense and open up the passing game for big plays.

Ndamukong Suh

The Chicago Bears have struggled to protect quarterback Jay Cutler this season. Through four games, only one team has allowed more sacks than the Bears. In addition, Chicago's poor protection has led to Jay Cutler throwing four picks and being hit a total of 25 times. Don't expect this to change Monday night.

Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is the face of the Detroit Lions defense. Despite his two sacks and 12 tackles this season, Suh has appeared to be disappointed with his and the rest of the Lions defensive performance. However, Ndamukong Suh is known for coming up big in games when his team needs him most. With first-round draft pick Nick Fairley making his NFL debut Monday, look for Suh and the rest of the Detroit defensive line to get to the quarterback all game long.

Devin Hester

Devin Hester is the most explosive returner the National Football League has ever seen. He currently holds the record for most punt return touchdowns in a career (11), most punt return touchdowns in a season (four) and most combined kick return touchdowns in a game (two, a mark he set twice). This season, Devin Hester ranks first in the NFL in punt return touchdowns and second in the NFL in punt returns over 40 yards.

The Detroit Lions will give Hester an opportunity to make plays all game long. Detroit has punted 23 times this season, the sixth most in the league. In addition, the Lions have allowed the 11th most return yards in the NFL, with 107.

In a divisional rivalry game like this one, special teams plays can make all the difference in the world. Devin Hester is a dangerous threat to score every time the ball is in his hands. One big play from him could be the end of the Detroit Lions' dream season. 

Brandon Pettigrew

Over the past two weeks, tight end Brandon Pettigrew has emerged as one of Matt Stafford's favorite targets, catching 17 passes for 176 yards. Pettigrew has a great combination of size and speed which allows him to be both a solid blocker and a big play option that can be split out wide. He has been a huge factor in the Detroit Lions' miraculous second half comebacks this season.

The Chicago Bears defense has struggled to cover tight ends this season. During the first four weeks tight ends Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta), Jimmy Graham (New Orleans), Jermichael Finley (Green Bay) and Greg Olsen (Carolina) have combined for 286 yards and four touchdowns against the Chicago Bears.

As Brandon Pettigrew continues to become a larger part of Detroit's offense, look for him to be catching passes all night as the Lions try to take advantage of the Chicago Bears' weakness.

Julius Peppers

This season, the Detroit Lions rank among the best in the NFL in sacks allowed. However, they have allowed Matt Stafford to be hit 20 times, the 15th most in the league. Although Jeff Backus did a fairly good job of slowing down DeMarcus Ware last week against the Dallas Cowboys, he struggled late in the game stopping Jared Allen Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings.

With Matt Stafford's history of shoulder injuries, protecting him will be a top priority not just to win Monday night against the Chicago Bears, but to keep their playoff hopes alive this season.

The biggest challenge standing in the way of this is the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers. With his rare combination of size and speed, Peppers is one of the most dominating defensive players in the NFL. As the leader of the Chicago Bears defensive line, Julius Peppers has recorded two sacks this season while the rest of the Chicago Bears defense has recorded an additional six. Peppers is a player who has the potential to be the difference maker in slowing down the red hot Detroit Lions offense.

Calvin Johnson

The most important player for the Detroit Lions Monday night is the same player who has been the reason for their success all season long: Calvin Johnson. Johnson has refused to be stopped so far, catching two touchdown passes in each of his first four games, an NFL record. The red zone connection between Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson has been automatic this season. Despite double and even triple coverage on Megatron, no team has been able to slow him down from potentially making NFL history.

When Monday night comes, it will be up to the Chicago Bears secondary, most importantly cornerback Tim Jennings, to try their best to stop the best wide receiver in the NFL. The Chicago Bears defense has been among the worst in the league in both receiving yards allowed (29th in NFL) and receiving touchdowns allowed (18th in NFL).

Look for Calvin Johnson to exploit a very shaky secondary on the way to a Detroit Lions victory.