Behind the Numbers - Chicago Bears

Welcome to the Mane's new weekly segment, Behind the Numbers. Each week we will break down the Lions next opponent and take you one step further, behind the numbers.

The Chicago Bears - A worthy Opponent

Don't let the Bears 2-2 record lead to overconfidence. The two losses have been to the last two Super Bowl winners. the New Orleans Saints and the Green Packers. Their two victories have been against the loser of last years NFC Championship game, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Cam Newton led Carolina Panthers. Read more after the jump...

BY THE NUMBERS - OFFENSIVE RANKS

Passing - 25th overall, 211.5 yards passing per game 1.25 TD's per game. 1 INT per game. 3.75 times sacked per game. 77.8 composite QB rating.

Rushing - 20th overall. 96.2 ypg. 20.5 attempts pg. 0.5 TD's pg. 1 fumble for the season

BY THE NUMBERS - DEFENSIVE RANKS

Passing - 29th overall. 301.5 ypg. 1.75 TD's pg. 0.75 INT's pg. 2 sacks pg. 95.3 composite opponent QB rating.

Rushing - 23rd overall. 124.2 ypg. 24.5 attempts pg. 0.75 TD's per game. 1 forced fumble pg.

Looking at the numbers, one might wonder how the Bears put even two victories together. The danger at this time of year for the average fan is one of mental complacency. After only a relatively small sampling of games, people tend try to extrapulate what they will see, and therein lies the danger. Let's go behind the numbers, and see what the Bears have faced this season.

BY THE NUMBERS - BEARS OPPONENTS COMPOSITE AVERAGES VS. LIONS

Offensive Passing - Bears Opponents 312.5 ypg 6th overall vs, Lions 301.2 ypg 7th overall

Offensive Rushing - Bears Opponents 108.4 ypg 16th overall vs. Lions 74.5 ypg 29th overall

Defensive Passing - Bears Opponents 267 ypg 21st overall vs. Lions 221.2 ypg 12th overall

Defensive Rushing - Bear Opponents 101.5 ypg 12th overall vs. Lions 113 ypg 20th overall

The Lions are 4-0, but what kind of quality have they faced thus far to get there. Let's take a look at the Lions opponents composites.

BY THE NUMBERS - LIONS OPPONENTS COMPOSITE AVERAGES

Offensive Passing - 220 ypg 24.5 overall

Offensive Rushing - 117.9 ypg 10.5 overall

Defensive Passing - 256.5 ypg 19.5 overall

Defensive Rushing - 92.25 ypg 8.5 overall

As you can see, Lions opponents stack up quite favorably vs. the Bears ranks. Although the Lions have yet to face a top flight passing offense this year, the Bears have yet to put up a top flight passing performance this year.

This has been BEHIND THE NUMBERS. See you again next week!