Lions live by the pass
Dealing with the NFL's top-ranked passing offense while playing without your starting cornerbacks sounds like an impossible task for the Bears.
It could be reality on Sunday in Detroit, however, unless Nathan Vasher (groin) or Charles Tillman (ankle) make rapid recoveries from injury.
Both are listed as doubtful on the injury report, and Vasher could be out for several weeks.
The Bears' only chance might be to stop the Lions before the ball takes flight. Detroit quarterbacks have been sacked 15 times in three games, most in the NFL.
The Lions are also tied for second in giveaways with 10. Full disclosure notice: The Bears lead the league with 11 turnovers, which is one reason why Brian Griese is now the starting quarterback.
Detroit has been averaging 345 passing yards per game, but its offense is completely out of balance. Through three weeks, the Lions (2-1) have thrown 138 passes and run just 54 times.
"We stress the run. We stressed the run in training camp," said Lions receiver Roy Williams. "The first couple games we ran the football well. But (offensive coordinator Mike Martz) is a passing guy, man, and we create mismatches on the outside.
"That puts a lot of stress on those offensive linemen of ours, because defenses just pin their ears back and go after the quarterback instead of trying to play the run. We get one-dimensional. That's where we kind of get in trouble sometimes."
The Lions rank 29th in rushing yards with 67.7 per game. But they are in good company, since 3-0 Green Bay is the league's worst running team through three weeks.
Former Denver running back Tatum Bell is Detroit's top runner with 121 yards on 29 carries. Last year's rushing leader, Kevin Jones, made his first appearance of the season last week after recovering from a foot injury suffered last December.
The Lions' playmakers are receivers. They have a Pro Bowler in Williams, last year's NFC receptions leader in Mike Furrey, No. 2 draft pick Calvin Johnson and an emerging talent in Shaun McDonald. Quarterback Jon Kitna is in his 12th NFL season.
If Kitna has time to throw Sunday, the results could be devastating. Lions coach Rod Marinelli acknowledged the importance of stopping the Bears' pass rush, which has 10 sacks in three games, by offering an old-school solution.
"You've got to just go out and practice and work on pass protection," Marinelli said. "Get your pads on and line up and do a pass-rush drill. Make sure we know who to pick up on the blitzes and make sure we've got a helmet centered in somebody's chest. That's what this game's about."
Lion paws: Detroit's offensive line could be playing shorthanded Sunday. Left tackle Jeff Backus has a rib-cage injury and is in danger of missing a start for the first time in his 99-game NFL career. Right guard Damien Woody is also questionable because of a rib injury. … The Lions are hoping rookie receiver Calvin Johnson will play against the Bears despite a bruised back. … It has been 50 years since the Lions won their last NFL championship, and that 1957 team will be honored Sunday at Ford Field.