The Detroit Lions are set to play the Chicago Bears in their first home game of the 2025 season. Following a lackluster loss to the Green Bay Packers the week prior, Detroit has a lot to prove against another division rival this week. The success of the Detroit Lions will rely on several key matchups on both sides of the ball:
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. whoever plays nickel cornerback for the Bears
St. Brown didn’t have a strong Week 1 debut, but he could see an uptick in production this week depending on which players are available to cover the slot for Chicago.
The Bears’
starting nickel cornerback, Kyler Gordon, missed last week’s game against Minnesota due to a hamstring injury and has yet to return to practice. With Josh Blackwell limited with a groin injury, the Bears turned to veteran Nick McCloud to man that position in Week 1.
In the five games where St. Brown and Gordon faced off against each other, the Lions receiver has amassed 26 receptions for 303 yards and a pair of touchdowns (average of five catches for 61 yards per game). Gordon has been the primary defender on St. Brown throughout their time as divisional rivals, and there have been times when he’s locked down the All-Pro receiver.
If Gordon is unable to play, his backup is Blackwell, who may also miss the game due to an injury. Blackwell is a decent player as a reserve defensive back, but he will struggle more against higher-caliber players such as St. Brown. In 2024, Blackwell was given a low 58.1 overall grade from PFF.
The most likely player to match up against St. Brown in this game is Nick McCloud. In Week 1, McCloud did not perform well, recording no tackles and earning a pitiful 43.1 coverage grade by PFF.
The Lions would do well to capitalize on this mismatch as much as possible. Detroit’s offense needs St. Brown to be involved more in order to succeed, and things are not looking well for Chicago in this regard. St. Brown does his best work from the slot, and he could be primed for a bounce-back performance if he has to play against a reserve defender.
Detroit’s interior OL vs. Chicago’s interior DL
With a new season came a new iteration of Detroit’s offensive line. While Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell are still holding down the fort at the tackle spots, the Lions’ interior line now consists of Christian Mahogany, Graham Glasgow, and Tate Ratledge.
Glasgow brings steady veteran experience, but he hasn’t been a full-time center since 2018. Ratledge just completed his NFL debut, and Mahogany is essentially still a rookie after logging only 75 snaps in 2024. That lack of cohesion showed in Week 1 against Green Bay as Jared Goff was sacked four times and the run game never took off, with Detroit’s running backs being held to just 44 yards on the ground.
They’ll soon be tested by Chicago’s defensive tackles. Gervon Dexter was disruptive against Minnesota, pairing with veteran Grady Jarrett to generate pressure on the quarterback and shut down the run game. However, Jarrett’s status is uncertain due to a knee injury. If he can’t go, the Bears will turn to Andrew Billings or Chris Williams, who were their two lowest-graded defenders by PFF in Week 1.
This matchup looms large for Detroit. The Lions have one of the league’s best running back duos in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, yet they failed to establish the run game in Week 1 due to a lack of push up front. While Dexter is still going to be a difficult task for Detroit’s interior offensive line, they might catch a break against one of the reserve defensive tackles. If Jarrett is unable to play, this matchup looks favorable for Detroit’s offense.
Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard vs. Bears HC Ben Johnson
It will be a battle of wits as these former colleagues become rivals. Ben Johnson joined Detroit’s offensive staff back in 2019, and Sheppard became the team’s linebackers coach two years later. It’s safe to say that after four seasons of facing one another in practices, they know each other’s tendencies and coaching styles well. Their familiarity with each other is something to keep an eye on for this game.
Sheppard’s defense allowed 266 total yards of offense by Green Bay in Week 1, while Johnson’s offense put up 329 yards from scrimmage in their loss to Minnesota. While Detroit played well against the run, their struggles in pass coverage make this matchup look favorable for Chicago. Johnson’s offense features quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for 210 yards and a touchdown while also showing some mobility with 58 more yards and another score on the ground.
Detroit’s lack of pass rush against Green Bay is worrisome even more now as they face off against a quarterback who can escape the pocket and keep plays alive downfield. Chicago’s offense spread the ball around a lot, with the receivers, tight ends, and running backs all getting a fair share of targets. On the other hand, their run game hasn’t been as reliable as they called upon former Detroit Lion D’Andre Swift to be their lone running back to get carries against the Vikings.
This matchup is pivotal for both teams. For Sheppard, it’s an opportunity to showcase his defense against someone who is familiar with his scheme. For Johnson, it’s a chance to prove his offensive strategies can succeed against a defense that knows him well.
