Studs and Duds from Bears’ 34-22 win over LionsDon't be fooled by the final score. The Chicago Bears dominated the Detroit Lions and while the game will go down in the stat sheet as a 12-point victory, it was nowhere near that close.
We run a studs and duds column every week here on Bears Wire and we do our best to find an even and balanced approach to each game. It was a real struggle to find more than one dud in Week 10 (and it won't come as a surprise who the main dud is).
The coaching staff called a great game and the offense and defense played like units capable of contending for a championship.
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Here are the top studs and few duds from Sunday's win over the Lions.Hats off to Mitchell Trubisky for setting a career high with 355 passing yards Sunday against the Lions in the first NFC North victory of his career. He accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) and was a one-man wrecking crew all afternoon.
The most exciting part of Trubisky's performance was how he did it. He's had big numbers in other games this season, but Sunday was by far his most confident, accurate and decisive performance. He threw the ball like a legitimate franchise quarterback and took a huge - massive! - step toward silencing the critics.
Allen Robinson had his breakout game as a Bear, hauling in six catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Robinson played like a dominant All-Pro receiver, something Chicago hasn't had since the glory days of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery.
The Bears' coaching staff made an educated choice to sit Robinson the last two games in order to get his injured groin (and, let's not forget, his surgically repaired knee) to 100 percent before this key playoff run. It was a brilliant decision.
Robinson was explosive and fast. He was a confident route-runner and didn't look like a player who is 14 months removed from a torn ACL.
Robinson will be the alpha-receiver and most dangerous playmaker for the Bears from here on out.
Allen Robinson's huge game overshadowed Anthony Miller's career day, but as the dust settles on this game, Miller's performance will receive the credit it deserves.
Miller ended the game with five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. He's getting better by the week and looks like a seasoned veteran. It's hard to believe he's just a rookie.
The Bears traded next year's second-round pick to secure Miller in last April's draft, and my oh my is it paying off. Miller has quickly become one of the best offensive rookies in the NFL.
Khalil Mack returned after a two-game absence to sack Matthew Stafford two times and disrupt the flow of the Lions' running game. It was great to see him return to Defensive Player of the Year form.
The defense, all around, played fast and physical with Mack back in the lineup. He elevates the play of everyone around him and the Lions were left scratching and clawing for production throughout the game.
The curious case of the Chicago Bears rushing attack continued in Week 10 despite leading by as many as 26 points at one point in the game.
Jordan Howard ended the game with just 11 carries for 21 yards. Tarik Cohen didn't fare any better; he ended Week 10 with seven carries for 15 yards. Mitch Trubisky was the most productive runner, toting the ball three times for 18 yards and a touchdown.
If the Bears want to bring their offense to the next level, they have to find a way to incorporate a more consistent and successful running game down the stretch.
Cody Parkey was awful Sunday. He missed two field goals and two extra points and seemed to aim for the goalposts rather than try to kick the ball through them.
Parkey has entered the hold-your-breath territory as a kicker, and that's never a good thing. He looks like he's lost all of his confidence, something that's really hard to get back once it's gone.
The Bears have to bring in kickers this week to send a message to Parkey. Don't expect a change to come right away, but Ryan Pace can't be stubborn on this one. A missed kick or two can be the difference between winning or losing in the playoffs.
Chicago is too good to have a kicker blow a promising season.