Based on their underlying strategic approach and matchup dynamics, the leading projections forecast the Bears to run on 51.8% of their plays: the 2nd-highest rate among all teams this week.
When talking about opening holes for runners (and the ramifications it has on all ground game statistics), the O-line of the Bears profiles as the 9th-best in the league last year.
Cons
At a -3-point disadvantage, the Bears are underdogs in this week’s game, implying more of a reliance on moving the ball through the air than their standard game plan.
Accounting for their underlying propensities and game dynamics, the Bears are expected by the projection model to run only 61.8 total plays in this contest: the fewest on the slate this week.
This year, the shaky Detroit Lions run defense has been torched for a whopping 3.82 adjusted yards-per-carry (YPC) to the opposing run game: the 29th-highest rate in football.
As it relates to the defensive ends’ role in stopping the run, Detroit’s group of DEs has been exceptional this year, projecting as the 4th-best in the league.