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Stafford, talented Lions offense will be tough for Bears to tame

The Bears' No. 10 pass defense will be tested Sunday by a Detroit Lions team that has scored a total of 68 points in back-to-back wins and ranks sixth in the NFL in points, averaging 27.1 per game.

Their maestro is quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has started 105 straight games. He ranks among the NFL leaders in multiple categories again this season, putting him in elite company in most statistical categories for quarterbacks under 30 in league history.

"He's extremely talented," Bears head coach John Fox said. "They're very potent."

Stafford is fourth in the league with 2,461 passing yards, and his 96.3 passer rating is 10th. At age 29 and in his ninth season as the Lions' starter, Stafford already has directed 30 game-winning, fourth-quarter drives.

Since the 1970 merger, only he and the Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan have led 30 or more game-winning drives in their first nine seasons, according to the Elias Sport Bureau. Ryan has led 34 game-winng drives.

Stafford has 204 TD passes and is one of only four quarterbacks in NFL history with more than 200 before age 30. He joins Dan Marino (245), Peyton Manning (244) and Brett Favre (218).

Stafford, who doesn't turn 30 until February, has thrown for 32,764 yards and should easily surpass Manning (33,189) for the most ever under age 30.

Explanation please:

Wide receiver Josh Bellamy, who came into last week's game with 10 catches for 114 yards, was targeted seven times against the Green Bay Packers and caught 2 passes for 57 yards, including a 46-yard TD.

Coming off a career game (3 catches, 92 yards) vs. the New Orleans Saints in Week Nine, wide receiver Tre McBride had zero receptions last week and was targeted just once.

Why the discrepancy?

"Sometimes, statistically, when you say, 'He played the best game of his career,' that may not match with what the coaches see on tape," offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. "We thought Bellamy gave us an element of speed that we needed that week. He's always been a good blocker.

"We needed to stretch the field, and he's probably our fastest wide receiver. He came up big on the long touchdown pass."

Injury report:

Tight end Dion Sims (illness), linebacker Danny Trevathan (calf) and cornerback Bryce Callahan (knee) were listed as questionable, but they did not practice all week.

Last week six players were listed as questionable after not practicing all week, including Sims, Trevathan and Callahan, and not one was active Sunday.

Guard Tom Compton (ankle) and safety DeAndre Houston-Carson (illness) were limited Friday and also listed as questionable. Linebacker Sam Acho (shoulder) had a full practice and should play. Guard Kyle Long (fingers) was removed from the injury report and is expected to start.

For the Lions, defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (back) and running back Dwayne Washington (hip) are out.

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