What are the Chicago Bears talking about ahead of Sunday's Week 2 NFC North matchup at Ford Field against the Lions?
1. Bears head coach Ben Johnson knows better than anyone the atmosphere and noise level that his team will be up against Sunday in Detroit. After drawing four false start flags in a loss to the Vikings on Monday night, Johnson was asked how the Bears would solve the problem heading into their Week 2 game at one of the loudest environments in the NFL at Ford Field.
"I guess silent cadence, right? Maybe that'll help here this week," he said. "We can go on that and we're going to need to do that and we're going to need to be really good at that because this is going to be a loud environment that we're going to. It's going to be a playoff-like atmosphere. Ford Field has been something else over the last couple of years, so we're going to have to be at our best.
"Certainly, we haven't been good enough over the course of camp. We haven't been good Week 1, and so this is going to be a huge point of emphasis for us going forward."
View photos of the starters for the Chicago Bears.
Head Coach: Ben Johnson
Offensive Coordinator: Declan Doyle
Defensive Coordinator: Dennis Allen
Special Teams Coordinator: Richard Hightower
(AP Photo/Kara Durrette)
WR DJ Moore
Backed up by Olamide Zaccheaus and Luther Burden III
(AP Photo/Todd Rosenberg)
LT Braxton Jones
Backed up by Theo Benedet
(AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
LG Joe Thuney
Backed up by Luke Newman
(AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
C Drew Dalman
Backed up by Ryan Bates
(AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
RG Jonah Jackson
Backed up by Kiran Amegadjie
(AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
RT Darnell Wright
Backed up by Ozzy Trapilo
(AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
TE Cole Kmet
Backed up by Durham Smythe
(AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
TE Colston Loveland
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
WR Rome Odunze
Backed up by Devin Duvernay and Jahdae Walker
(AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
QB Caleb Williams
Backed up by Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum
(AP Photo/Todd Rosenberg)
RB D'Andre Swift
Backed up by Roschon Johnson and Kyle Monangai
(AP Photo/Todd Rosenberg)
DL Montez Sweat
Backed up by Daniel Hardy
(AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
DL Grady Jarrett
Backed up by Chris Williams and Shemar Turner
(AP Photo/Todd Rosenberg)
DL Gervon Dexter Sr.
Backed up by Andrew Billings
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
DL Dayo Odeyingbo
Backed up by Dominique Robinson
(AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
LB T.J. Edwards
Backed up by Ruben Hyppolite II and D'Marco Jackson
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
LB Tremaine Edmunds
Backed up by Noah Sewell
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
S Jaquan Brisker
Backed up by Elijah Hicks
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
S Kevin Byard III
Backed up by Jonathan Owens
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
DB Kyler Gordon
Backed up by Nick McCloud and Josh Blackwell
(AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
CB Tyrique Stevenson
Backed up by Jaylon Jones
(AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
CB Jaylon Johnson
Backed up by Nahshon Wright
(AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
K/KO Cairo Santos
(AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
P/H Tory Taylor
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
LS Scott Daly
(AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
KR/PR Devin Duvernay
Backed up by Josh Blackwell
(AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
2. Johnson confirmed Tuesday that there were no significant long-term injuries coming out of their contest Monday. Wide receiver DJ Moore left briefly in the fourth quarter following a big hit but did return to the game. Johnson said talking with Moore Tuesday that the veteran receiver seemed fine. Moore finished with three receptions on five targets for a game-high 68 receiving yards. He also rushed for an additional eight yards from three carries.
Bears players who didn't play Monday and will have to be monitored on the practice report this week include: Cornerback Jaylon Johnson (groin, calf), linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) and cornerback Kyler Gordon (hamstring).
3. Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze was asked to describe what he's seen from Detroit's defense live and on tape, and he said the biggest thing is just how hard they play, how they run to the football and how physical they are. He said one of the things they've talked about as an offense this week is matching that same energy.
Odunze said in a game like Sunday's the more physical team usually comes out of top, and they plan to be that team. He also said he's excited to face Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold, who he got to know from their draft days.
4. Johnson obviously has a lot of familiarity with Detroit's roster having spent the previous five seasons on the Lions coaching staff. How can that knowledge manifest itself when it comes time to prepare the game plan?
"I think (my coaching staff) knows they watch the tape. They are really good coaches," Johnson said. "They know who their playmakers are and maybe some perceived weaknesses on their roster. Every team has strengths and weaknesses. I let them do their due diligence and it's always good to have different eyes on it. We talked last night about their roster a little bit and we'll continue to do that over the course of the week here."
Johnson said he knows things about players on Detroit's roster that doesn't necessarily show up on tape and they've had discussions about a few of those things as a coaching staff Tuesday night.
5. Safety Kevin Byard said there's no doubt in his mind that Detroit's offense comes into Sunday's contest wanting to establish the run, especially after struggling in that department Week 1.
"Monday night we kind of let a couple runs kind of gash and with the two running backs (Detroit) has, two really good running backs, they are going to try and establish the run early," he said.
Byard said Detroit's offense is so hard to handle if you let them establish the run. It opens up the play action and the over routes. He said they know how dangerous Detroit is offensively despite not playing up to their standard Sunday in Green Bay.
View photos from Detroit Lions practice on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell and Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Zach Cunningham (52) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett (19) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (23) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett (19) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
6. Johnson was asked if he was surprised that Detroit struggled on offense in Green Bay. He made the point that it was Week 1 and they have some young players upfront along their offensive line and sometimes those things happens early in a season.
He also gave a lot of credit to Green Bay's defense for coming out flying and showing up all over the field.
"I anticipate them to be much improved this week," Johnson said of Detroit's offense.
7. Byard said that Green Bay certainly put some good things on tape in terms of how to attack Detroit's offense. First, stop the run. Second, disguise coverage and make quarterback Jared Goff check the ball down. Third, rally to the football and tackle well.
Check-downs can still become big plays, especially with some of the weapons the Lions have, so Chicago knows tackling is going to be critical for them Sunday
