Five things to watch as Detroit Lions face the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving

Bears beat the Lions easily in first meeting

ALLEN PARK — When it comes to Thanksgiving, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford says he’s no different from most people.

“I just eat a ton of food like everybody else. Eat a bunch of food, relax a little bit. It’s kind of a nice little couple days off for us,’’ Stafford said.

Unlike others, before he hits the dinner table he has a football game to try to win. Stafford and the LIons have won four of the last five games on Thanksgiving, losing, 30-23, to the Vikings a year ago.

Usually players on both teams love the Turkey Day spotlight.

“It’s awesome. I grew up watching it as a Cowboys fan. I’ve been a part of it now for 10 years here. It’s cool that the city and the fans and really our team, we embrace this game, we love it, we love playing it every year,’’ Stafford said. “So, it’s just a great tradition to be a part of and obviously a lot of fun when you win it.”

It will be a first for Bears coach Matt Nagy who looks forward to the chance to play with the nation watching on Thanksgiving.

“I know I am, and this will be my first time playing a game on Thanksgiving. What better way to come out and play a game on Thanksgiving? Not all players and people get these opportunities, these chances. So, the guys will be looking forward to it and it’ll be fun,’’ Bears coach Matt Nagy said on a Tuesday conference call.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

The Lions will be without wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., and running back Kerryon Johnson. While Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is listed as “doubtful” which means it’s likely Chase Daniel will get the start.

Five things to watch:

1. The Lions must stop the run like they did when they lost to the Bears on Nov. 11. That day Detroit’s defense held Chicago to 54 rushing yards. Whatever that game plan was, Detroit needs to repeat in. After a horrid start on run defense, they’ve held opponents to less than 60 rushing yards for two straight weeks.

2. Don’t give up on the run game even without Kerryon Johnson (knee). Between LeGarrette Blount, Theo Riddick and Zach Zenner stick with the one who finds the most success as the game progresses. Don’t be surprised if it’s Zenner. The Lions only rushed for 66 yards against the Bears the last game, but part of the reason is that they were down 26-0 early. “We have a bunch of guys in that room that are talented. If they need to play more, they’ll play more. If they don’t, then we’ll roll with what we have,’’ Stafford said.

3. The Lions will be without Marvin Jones Jr., for the second straight game. Stafford was able to make the passing game work in the win over the Panthers by targeting Kenny Golladay 14 times. He finished with eight catches for 113 yards and a beauty of a touchdown. Stafford is still getting acquainted with newcomer Bruce Ellington who had six catches for 52 yards on Sunday. “I thought Bruce (did a really nice job stepping in. I don’t know how long he’s been here, maybe 10 days. So, it was really good for him to get out there and get his feet wet,’’ Stafford said.

4.  When the Lions and Bears last met, cornerback Darius Slay was on the sidelines. He’s back and that should be a huge boost. “He’s a great player. He’s been doing it for a while. I think there are a lot of different things that he does well,’’ Nagy said. “He definitely makes them better, and we know that and we have to know where he’s at at all times.”

5. Get pressure on the quarterback — likely Chase Daniel who hasn’t started a game since 2014. Trubisky was sacked just once by the Lions defense on Nov. 11. Because of Daniel’s lack of playing time, it should be easier to rattle him. The defense did a solid job against the Panthers’ Cam Newton sacking him three times, although he did pass for three touchdowns. Daniel is no Cam Newton but the defense can’t think that way.

EXTRA: In the Lions first Thanksgiving game on Nov. 29, 1934, the Bears beat the Lions, 19-16. The Lions are 8-8 against the Bears on Thanksgiving.

PREDICTION: Lions 28, Bears 21

Lions prepare for either Bears QB

Chase Daniel’s last start was in 2014

ALLEN PARK — Bears quarterback Chase Daniel could make his first NFL start since 2014 on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions.

Starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who injured his shoulder in Sunday night’s win over the Vikings, will likely be a game-time decision. Bears coach Matt Nagy said on Tuesday that Trubisky is day to day.  The coach is not holding back information he just doesn’t know.

“I wish I could tell you, I wish I could tell people here. It’s just, we have to be able to see exactly where he’s at as we go forward and we won’t know that, really, it’s such a short week we won’t even know it up until the game,’’ Nagy said on a conference call on Tuesday.

Trubisky, who has helped lead the Bears to an 8-4 record and first place in the NFC North, threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns in Chicago’s Nov. 11 win over the Lions.

The Lions have to be prepared for both quarterbacks.

“Obviously, in the situation with Chase Daniel, the guy is very versed in the system. He’s played in it for a while, he’s been with Nagy before, he understands it, has complete control of the system,’’ Lions coach Matt Patricia said. “He’s a veteran guy, he’s out there quite a bit. A little bit different than Trubisky, but as far as the operation of the offense, none of that really will change.”

Because of the short week neither team is holding regular practices, both are having walk-throughs instead. So it’s not like Trubisky is missing practice.

“None of our guys are doing anything right now. We’re all mental. There’s just not enough time. Everything we’re doing is mental right now,’’ Nagy said. “As far as practice is concerned, it’s all walk-throughs and there’s nothing physical going on.”

Detroit Lions could lean on Zach Zenner in Thanksgiving game vs. Bears

Zenner had 88 carries in 2016

With Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson out for the Thanksgiving game against the Chicago Bears, look for Zach Zenner to possibly get more involved in the offense.

Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter doesn’t have much choice. Theo Riddick could get the ball more often. He’s had nine carries for 30 yards so far, but is used more often in the passing game (41 catches). Veteran LeGarrette Blount is a short yardage back who can’t carry the load in place of Johnson.

Zenner, who was re-signed two weeks ago, has fresh legs and has played mostly on special teams in the last two games.

Coach Matt Patricia wouldn’t say which running back they will lean on but praised Zenner especially for recovering the onside kick late in Sunday’s win over the Panthers.

“He’s done a great job since he’s been back. He’s done a lot out at practice that we feel very confident with him out there. He’s done a lot on special teams. (He) obviously made a huge play (Sunday). That’s a very difficult play, I don’t think underestimate or understate the hands teams team, last kick, all the space,’’ Patricia said. “They really did a good job with (formatting) that play and created a lot of space for him to have to cover and think he did a great job of staying calm and patient in that situation and made a really good play.

“He’s done a good job and that’s part of the reason why some of the practices that we have are structured the way they are so those guys are out there and we’re getting a good look at them from that standpoint of are they ready to go and are they not in any situation that may come up. I think he’s a great example of a guy that’s just — he’s such a professional. He’s just always ready to go. He’s done a good job,’’ Patricia added.

Zenner had one carry on the last play in the loss to the Bears two weeks ago, gaining 12 yards. And in Sunday’s win over the Panthers, he played 18 snaps on special teams and got in on offense late with Johnson out but didn’t carry the ball.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

Zenner, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015, saw the most work in the 2016 season when Ameer Abdullah was lost in the second game and Theo Riddick was in and out with various injuries. In that season Zenner had 88 carries for 334 yards (6.3 yards per carry) and scored four touchdowns. Cooter knows what Zenner can do and Zenner knows the offense.