Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears What To Watch For

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

Here are some things to watch out for when the Detroit Lions travel to take on the Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday, January 3rd, 2016:

• Robbie Gould needs at least to 2 field goals to break the Bears' single-season field goals record which is 32. Gould set the record back on 2006. Gould also needs to attempt 5 field goals to break the Bears' single-season record which is 41. Ex-Bears kicker Kevin Butler holds the record with 41 field goal attempts in 1986.
• Jay Cutler needs at least 425 yards to break the Bears' single-season record for most passing yards. Cutler currently has 3,414 passing yards in 15 games played. Ex-Bears quarterback Erik Kramer currently holds the record with 3,838 passing yards in 1995. 
• Matt Forte needs at least 178 rushing yards to get to 1,000 for the season. He currently has 822 rushing yards. If he were to eclipse the 1,000 rushing yards plateau, it would be the fourth year in a row he has achieved that feat. He currently has 5 years in which he has rushed for at least a 1,000 yards. Forte also needs 9 catches to pass the legendary Walter Payton in all-time receptions for the Bears. Payton has 492 receptions.
• If the Bears were to defeat the Lions, this would be the Bears' only second win at home.
• The Bears' all-time record against the Lions is 96-70-5, but the Lions have won 5 straight in the series. The last time the Bears beat the Lions was on 12/30/2012 at Ford Field in Detroit. The final score was 26-24, and it was Lovie Smith's last game as head coach of the Bears.
• The last game against the Lions was at Ford Field on 10/18/2015. The Lions won 37-34 (OT) in a game where the Bears definitely had their chances to beat the Lions.