Finish Strong: Bears defense strong for 3 quarters, needs 4 against Lions

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 3 hours ago

CHICAGO - Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen had to be satisfied overall with his defense for the first three quarters of the season opener against the Vikings.

However, three out of four quarters is not going to cut it.

“I thought we did some good things. I think we got to finish better. But ultimately, anytime you don’t win the game, we didn’t do enough,” Allen said. “Our focus really is on Detroit. They got a lot of really good skill players, a lot of speed on the field. It’ll be a tough challenge.”

Chicago will take on the Detroit Lions on Sun. Sept. 14 (Noon / FOX). The Green Bay Packers dominated Detroit, although that might be more of a reflection on how Green Bay is this season, as they also dominated the Washington Commanders to start off week two.

The Lions still have a lot of weapons on offense and should not be underestimated, although Allen sees this game as an opportunity more than anything.

“They got a lot of weapons on offense. They got some new guys in the interior of their offensive line. But, a lot of the skilled players, quarterback, a lot of those guys are the same guys that were on the team last year,” Allen said. “I think this is going to be a really tough challenge in a hostile environment. So, but we’re looking forward to the opportunity. Great opportunity for us to go in and play a team that won the division last year.”

The Lions have always been a team that prides themselves on running the ball. They have one of the best running back duos in the NFL between Jahmyr Gibbs and former Bears’ running back David Montgomery.

Detroit tends to utilize Gibbs and Montgomery to establish the pass-action game, which Allen will aim to shut down throughout the entire game.

“That’s going to be their mentality. I know they’re (going to) have a bully ball mentality and they want to be able to run the football. I thought Green Bay did a nice job against them in the game last week. I think that’s where everything starts with this football team is their ability to run the football, which opens up the play action passing game, things of that nature,” Allen said. “So, we understand that that’s going to be a challenge and that it’s going to start with our ability to stop the run. So, we’re going to have to do a good job there, and then we’re going to have to eliminate the explosive plays, whether it be the checkdowns and the run after catch, things that they like to do, or some of the shot plays down the field. So, they’re effective in doing a lot of different things.”

Another key to this game for the defense will be making quarterback Jared Goff uncomfortable in the pocket. Throughout his career, when he is in the pocket with minimal pressure, that is when he does the most damage. Against the Packers, he was pressured over 25 percent of the time he dropped back.

That certainly contributed to why the Lions were barely able to put points on the board for most of the game.

“I think when he’s able to throw the ball on timing and rhythm, I think he’s exceptional as a pocket passer and so, we’ve got to be able to disrupt timing whether that be through the rush or that be through the coverage,” Allen said. “That’s what the whole thing has to be predicated on is trying to make him uncomfortable in the pocket and so, we’ll have a plan for that.”