Key matchup
Outside linebacker Khalil Mack is in a groove again after returning from a two-game absence caused by an ankle injury. He had three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in victories against the Lions and Vikings. Mack had two sacks Nov. 11 against the Lions, beating tackles Taylor Decker and Rick Wagner.
Decker and Wagner will be under the gun again Thursday. Mack figures to be even quicker on artificial turf, and Leonard Floyd is coming off a big game as a left-side complement to Mack. But the Lions have protected quarterback Matthew Stafford better at Ford Field. They allowed 16 sacks in back-to-back road games against the Vikings (10) and Bears (six), but Stafford was sacked only once Sunday against the Panthers. In fact, the Lions have allowed only eight sacks in five home games.
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The Bears have won four consecutive games for the first time since the 2012 season, when they won six in a row. They’ve never trailed during that stretch.
Key player
Lions Pro Bowl cornerback Darius ‘‘Big Play’’ Slay is back after missing the first game against the Bears with a knee injury. Slay’s absence was noticeable, as the Lions allowed 355 passing yards — including plays of 55, 45, 36, 35, 27, 26 and 24 yards — in that game.
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Anthony Miller had the two biggest plays against the Lions, but Slay figures to match up against Allen Robinson, who had six receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns — including plays of 36, 35, 27 and 26 yards — in the game at Soldier Field.
Slay led the NFL in pass breakups (26) and interceptions (eight) last season. He intercepted Mitch Trubisky twice in the Lions’ 20-10 victory at Soldier Field in 2017.
X-factor
With Trubisky doubtful because of a shoulder injury, Chase Daniel is expected to get his first start since 2014, when he was 16-for-27 for 157 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions and a 75.7 rating for the Chiefs against the Chargers in Week 17.
A road game against a division opponent isn’t an ideal spot for a backup to start for the first time in nearly four years, but Daniel has a good grasp of coach Matt Nagy’s offense — arguably a better grasp of it than Trubisky, based on his three seasons with the Chiefs. He certainly looked capable in a preseason game against the Chiefs, in which he directed three consecutive touchdown drives.
With an offense in midseason form and an attacking defense on a roll, this shouldn’t be an overwhelming chore for Daniel.
