Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: 5 Lions You Must Watch in the Windy City

There are five Lions you must watch on Sunday as the Detroit Lions head to Chicago to take on the Bears.

Yes, the Detroit Lions begin the brutal second half of the schedule by packing their Bubbles, the yoked-up Lion, helmets and embark on a puddle jumper flight across Lake Michigan in an attempt to sweep the season series with Da' Bears.

The mad scientist Mike Martz and Rod Marinelli will seek revenge against the Detroit Lions as they have watched Jim Schwartz do what the Motor City M&M combo could not: win.

As reckless as an unattended child with a vile of potassium and a bowl of water, Mike Martz and his 20-step drop-back play calls will look to reverse their fortunes from the Monday Night Massacre endured earlier this season.

In their last meeting, the Lions defensive front turned the mad scientist’s “Greatest Show on Turf” playbook into a backyard “Smear the Kid with Nerf” follie, as Jay Cutler was mangled by the Lions wide-nine front no less than 24 times including sacks, knockdowns and hurries.

Two dozen times? That’s more than enough to satisfy any Hill Street squad car as they patrol the Windy City with jelly-stained uniforms overlapping the required police belt, pressed firmly into the steering wheel and held steady by powder-covered digits.

Once again we will avoid the obvious and skip the necessity of requesting you pay attention to Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh.

It should be noted, however, that Stafford was snubbed in a laughable ESPN list of 50 best players in the NFL without even a nod in the “10 up-and-coming stars,” while Suh was ranked No. 50 behind many undeserving players including DT Vince Wilfork.

Are you kidding? No list that expects to be taken seriously can put “Porkchop” ahead of "House of Spears." 

With these slights in mind and Blues Brothers bravado, it's 106 miles to Chicago. We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses. - Hit it.

Here are the Van Etten V.

Stephen Tulloch

Beyond the snapshot memory of Stephen Tulloch dropping a “Tebow” on the NFL’s only living apostle, No. 55 played one of his best games of the year against the Broncos.

Although his pose in Denver was strong enough for an honorary position at Chicago's landmark Ed Debevic’s, this weekend’s task will be much more difficult.

Tulloch will be responsible for Matt Forte, and draping him like mozzarella on a Giordano’s deep dish pie. Forte is the second-leading rusher in the league with 809 yards on the ground, but just like FedEX, the Tulane product gets it done through the air as well.

With 41 grabs for 436 yards, Forte is the second-leading receiver amongst backs and has more receptions than Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald and Vincent Jackson.

Yes, Forte is the straw that stirs the drink for Chicago, and the Lions will need a great game from the middle linebacker to put Forte on ice.   

Stephen Peterman

Don’t look now Stevie, but there’s a 350-pound Cowboy standing behind you.

Yes, with the Lions signing free agent Leonard Davis this week, the days of Peterman manning the starting right guard position may be numbered. Apparently, Peterman cannot read between the bars of his own facemask.

"It's good," Peterman said Wednesday of Davis' signing. "He's a good player. He's getting back in there, learning the offense and anything I can do to help him—because you never know with injuries and stuff. A guy might be sitting out a week or something like that, so we need everybody. And that's been one of the things that's helped this year; when guys go down, guys step up." (via detnews.com)

The Dallas veteran is in the twilight of his career, and was not brought in by Martin Mayhew for the future: he’s here for a playoff run.

Davis spent this last week working in at right guard behind Peterman so if Stephen wants to keep his gig, he’ll need channel that pictured anger and step it up against the Bears.

Back-to-back Stephens, who's next Stephen Boyd? No, but he is one of the longest tenured Jungle Kings.

Jeff Backus

I’m using this photo in an attempt to telepathically remind Jeff Backus how he became a first-round draft pick from Michigan.

He may get some much needed help, as Julius Peppers is nursing a left knee injury suffered in Monday Night’s clash with the Philadelphia Eagles (via NFL.com). Peppers missed practice on Thursday and if he plays Sunday, he assuredly will not be at 100 percent.

Great news for the Lions organization and its fanbase. As we all remember, it was Peppers who used Matthew Stafford’s right shoulder like a Phil Mickelson lob wedge and carved up the Soldier Field turf, effectively ending the Lions 2010 campaign.

The play of Jeff Backus will be a good barometer for Stafford’s comfort level in the pocket, and ultimately the productivity of the Detroit Lions’ offense on the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Maurice Morris

Maurice Morris will get his chance to replicate the performance of Jahvid Best against the Bears.

In the Monday night affair, Best gashed the blue and orange for 163 yards on only a dozen attempts, including an 88-yard explosion right through the heart of the Monsters of the Midway.

Maurice will assuredly not break off a sprint that mirrors Best’s performance, but an average of five yards per carry would go a long way to keep the pass rush off of Stafford.

MoMo may have some competition, as the Lions added to the thin RB corps this week with the addition of former Leo Kevin Smith.

I would not think Smith would pose a serious threat for playing time, but Jim Schwartz spoke of Kevin with similar tones to “The Bobs” personnel review of Office Space protagonist Peter Gibbons.

Morris will have every chance to be the lead dog in the Bears' den.

Nick Fairley

The timing couldn’t be better for the Auburn rookie. After notching his first tackle of the 2011 season against the Falcons, Failey re-injured his foot and sat out the Broncos game.

With the bye week, Fairley’s had two weeks to rest and feels it has really helped him, as he told Phil Zaroo of Mlive.com.

"

"I'm feeling real good," said Fairley. "The break did a lot for me, especially just being able to sit back and rest up—get off my feet, let it heal on its own without nothing moving, without doing a lot of walking around or whatever. ...I'm all good to go, ready to go now. Second half, here we go, here we come."

"

Let’s hope so, because Corey Williams has failed to impress. Williams has only 18 total tackles, 10 solos and one-and-a-half sacks in eight games. Suh has bested his counterpart in all three statistical categories, all while demolishing more double teams than bratwursts inhaled by Chicago tailgaters.

Williams numbers are disappointing and the door is wide open for Fairley. The question is can the rookie stay healthy and rumble through?

Those are my five to watch this Sunday. It's been four years since the Lions flew home from Chicago with a win. Maybe this Sunday, Chicago will be their kind of town.