The Chicago Bears' defensive woes were on full display Sunday as they suffered a crushing 52-21 defeat against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. This loss marks the third time since the start of the 2024 season that the Lions have scored 50 or more points in a game, a feat they previously achieved against the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Defensive Breakdown

Bears' head coach Ben Johnson, who previously served as the Lions' offensive coordinator, expressed his frustration with the team's performance. "Any time you lose a game like that -- man, it's a kick in the teeth," Johnson said. "Nothing about that feels good."

The Bears' defense allowed 8.8 yards per play, the highest rate since 1961. They gave up 15 plays of 10-plus yards, seven plays of 20-plus yards, and five plays of 30-plus yards. Safety Jaquan Brisker noted, "We can't allow explosives. We haven't allowed it all camp. We haven't allowed any in practice. I was shocked just like everybody else."

Key Injuries

The Bears' defense was further hampered by injuries to cornerback Jaylon Johnson and linebacker T.J. Edwards, both of whom left the game with groin and hamstring injuries, respectively. These injuries are a reoccurrence of issues that kept them out of the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

Looking Ahead

With the Dallas Cowboys next on the schedule, the Bears face a daunting task to turn around their defensive performance. The Cowboys, coming off a 40-point victory against the New York Giants, will be looking to exploit the Bears' defensive vulnerabilities.

Player Reactions

Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett emphasized the need for resilience. "You get up and you keep fighting until that clock hits zero," Jarrett said. "That's all you can do. And when the game comes to an end, we're going to regroup. We're going to find out what we did wrong and how we can get better, and we're going to move forward."

Conclusion

The Bears' defensive struggles are a significant concern as they look to rebound from a string of disappointing performances. With key players injured and a tough schedule ahead, the team will need to make significant adjustments to avoid further setbacks.