Lions vs. Bears: Why Detroit Needs a Win in Chicago

On Sunday, the 6-2 Detroit Lions will travel to Soldier Field to do battle with the 5-3 Chicago Bears in a NFC North showdown.  If they want to increase their chances of making the playoffs, they will have to emerge from this battle victorious.

The Lions are entering the portion of their season where every game is a crucial one in determining whether, come late December, they will be out on the field contending or at home in front of their television screens.  A win against the Bears would start them off in the right direction.

Great teams win the games that matter most, and this game may in fact be Detroit's second most important matchup of the season, right behind the Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers.

It is time to start on the path toward greatness.

Prove They Can Win Outdoors

The Detroit Lions have it made in the shade when it comes to playing at home in a climate-controlled indoor stadium.

Against the Chicago Bears, they will not be afforded that same luxury.

Soldier Field is no picnic for opposing teams to play in come mid-November.  It can be a cold, weather-influenced venue that catches teams off guard who are accustom to playing indoors.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler knows this and as such, has promptly called out the Lions this week for being an indoor team.  

A win at Soldier Field will not only prove that the Lions are not some cushy team incapable of winning in unsavory weather but also force Cutler to eat his words.

Sweep a Division Rival

Short of making the playoffs or winning the Super Bowl, there is perhaps no greater feeling than beating a hated division rival twice in the same season.

After already having bested the Chicago Bears five weeks ago on Monday Night Football, the Detroit Lions are in a prime position to do just that.

A sweep of their series against the Bears would prove to the league that they are unquestionably the superior team of the two.  With that knowledge comes an air of self-confidence, which the Lions can then take advantage of in their remaining bouts with the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers.

Keep on Pace for Wild-Card Spot

The purpose of the regular season is to weed out lesser teams and show the nation which teams deserve a shot at the Lombardi Trophy.  

A solid victory over the Chicago Bears would go a long way toward giving the Detroit Lions that shot.

If the season ended today, the Lions along with the 5-3 Chicago Bears would both be making the playoffs as wild-card contenders.  But things change quickly in the NFL, and if the Lions do not keep up their trend of success, they may be on the outside looking in when the playoffs roll around.

A win on Saturday would give the Lions a two-game lead over the Bears and possibly a two-game lead over the Atlanta Falcons, who at 5-3 are the Lions closest competition for a wild-card spot.

Stay Within Reach of Division Title

Sure, a wild-card spot still ensures that they make the playoffs.  But wouldn't winning the division outright taste so much sweeter?

The answer is a resounding yes, and if the Detroit Lions want to find out just how sweet that would be, they need to continue winning.  

Unfortunately, they must contend with the Green Bay Packers, who are the only undefeated team left and arguably the best team in the league.

That is not to say, however, that a division title is impossible for the Lions.  In fact, if they can sweep their series against the Packers and beat the New Orleans Saints in Week 13, the Lions have a very realistic shot at the NFC North crown.

Granted, earning those three wins won't be easy.  But if they want to call themselves kings of the NFC North, it must be done.

Prove First Half Was Not a Fluke

Despite their success in the first half of the season, the Detroit Lions still have their share of haters who believe that their 6-2 record is a mere anomaly.

A win over the Chicago Bears would go a long way toward shutting up those naysayers.

The Lions must enter the second half of the season with the same hungry mentality that they had coming into the season.  They cannot become content, otherwise they will be in store for a rough last eight games.

If they finish the year with a 12-4 record, not only will they make the playoffs, but they will also have gone a long way toward proving that they deserve to be mentioned as one of the elite teams in the league.