Matthew Stafford: Matt Stafford’s final 8 games: 19 TDs, 2 INTs

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports that defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is expected to be a hot commodity on the head-coaching market this off-season.

Then again, the Lions have flashed that potential at times this season. This signals some positives and negatives for Bears fans. The victory gave Detroit a two-game sweep of Chicago for the third consecutive year and boosted coach Jim Caldwell’s chances of keeping his job as the Lions went 6-2 the second half of the season after starting 1-7.Johnson caught 10 passes for 137 yards, including a diving catch of a 36-yard Matt Stafford pass for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Running back Matt Forte is one of the lone big-play threats left for the Bears offense. He had three hits and a forced fumble but no sacks in the first meeting with the Bears. Both Cutler and Stafford had a tough time moving the sticks and the teams went into halftime with a 10-0 score in the Lions’ favor.

“I think it’s very important in all aspects, actually, and particularly with the way our guys have been playing as of late, this is very important to just continue to show some improvements”, Caldwell said.

Forte scored on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Cutler, making for a nice moment in what is likely the star running back’s final game with the Bears. Sutton wasn’t even projected to fit into the 3-4 scheme before the season.

With a 59-yard field goal against the Bears at Soldier Field, Prater now has the longest field goal in Lions history, breaking Jason Hanson’s previous record of 56 yards.

The Bears come into Sunday afternoon as slim 1-point favorites at home according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Each team could be missing key pieces on both sides of the ball. In the last 11 weeks, the Lions have improved to a101. While the Bears have stability at the head coaching position, the same cannot be said for the Lions, so this game could make or break the future for Jim Caldwell in the Motor City. Robbie Gould missed two or three game-winning field goals.

Cutler has completed 294-of-460 passes for 3,414 yards with 19 touchdowns and only eight interceptions for a career-high 92.8 passer rating this season.

When the Bears headed to training camp, they envisioned a strong receiving corps featuring Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White, Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson.

This one might actually be closer (and better) than people are giving it credit for. He is certainly one pick the Lions got right.

Sitting at 6-9, the Chicago team takes on the Lions of Detroit this Sunday in the battle for last place in the NFC North. With a win, the Bears would finish third in the NFC North and could build on their two game win streak heading into 2016.

The Lions intercepted Jay Cutler three times. Chicago Bears defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-21.

Jay Cutler hasn’t played poorly this year, the Bears have simply looked flat more often than naught.