LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Detroit Lions were already struggling and were also beaten last week. This seems as good a time as any to visit Chicago.

The Lions will look to get back on the winning streak when they play the struggling Bears after their franchise-record 11-game streak was halted.

“We got hit in the face and we need to get back up and get back to work and reposition ourselves to be able to play the next game and learn from what just happened,” coach Dan Campbell said. “And the other is not to lose confidence in the fact that we still have really good players and good coaches here in defense and that from that standpoint we can play the way we need to, but also in the offense and.” Play special teams and still win games.

“So that’s the most important thing and you really just have to focus on what’s in front of you.”

The Lions (12-2) still have a long way to go despite suffering a tough blow last week when Buffalo beat them 48-42. If they beat the Bears (4-10), they will set the franchise record for wins.

Detroit is coming off its first loss since Week 2 against Tampa Bay. Combined with wins from Minnesota and Philadelphia, the Lions landed in first place in the NFC North and in the race for the conference’s top seed.

Detroit didn’t just lose a game against Buffalo. The Lions lost several more key players and added running back David Montgomery, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, cornerback Carlton Davis and special teams ace Khalil Dorsey to the long injury list.

Despite all the shots they’ve made, the Lions are in an enviable position. They haven’t lost a game since losing five straight at the start of the 2022 season – Campbell’s second. They are also the only team in the NFL with a perfect 6-0 away record.

The suffering of the bears

The Bears have lost eight games in a row after losing to Minnesota on Monday and are 0-2 under interim coach Thomas Brown.

They fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and then let an in-season head coach go for the first time in their history when they fired Matt Eberflus the day after a painful Thanksgiving loss in Detroit. Esteemed quarterback Caleb Williams has had several shaky performances.

“I think about everything I have to be grateful for in this scenario,” rookie receiver Rome Odunze said. “There is an abundance of this, regardless of our past or the circumstances in which we currently find ourselves. In our situation, our circumstances, there is much to be grateful for. Just going into those things, but also experiencing that disappointment, that desire that drives us that fire and allows you to go out and work a little bit harder, dive in a little bit more to go out and get the result, that you really want.”

Jump back

The Lions were 1-6 with five straight losses after Miami defeated them in Week 8 of the 2022 season. Since then, they are 32-9 in the regular season and 2-1 in the playoffs.

Williams’ struggles

Williams appeared physically and mentally battered Monday when he had 191 passing yards against Minnesota after throwing for 134 yards in San Francisco the previous week.

The Vikings released the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California twice, bringing his league and franchise record total to 58.

On the bright side, Williams has played in eight straight games and has an NFL rookie record 286 passes without an interception – the longest streak of any Bears quarterback.

Gibbs on the way

Detroit had perhaps the best tandem of running backs in the NFL before Montgomery — a former Bears star — suffered a knee injury against Buffalo.

That leaves Jahmyr Gibbs to shoulder a larger load, although Campbell wants to keep an eye on how many runs the speedy second-year pro gets against the Bears.

“We have to take advantage and maximize the reps we have for him and make sure we don’t give him too much,” Campbell said. “We still have to be smart with him, but we need him. We need him and that’s the trick.”

Gibbs had a rushing touchdown and a catch for a score, along with a career-high 83 yards receiving against the Bills. With 1,047 yards rushing, 1,442 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns, he has already surpassed his point totals from a Pro Bowl rookie season.

If the Lions give Gibbs a break, they have 28-year-old Craig Reynolds and rookie Sione Vaki to choose from.

Slow starts

The Bears continue to struggle early in games.

They have outscored 73-20 overall in the first quarter this season, including 27-0 in their last three games. During that span, opponents had a first-half lead of 53-0.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl