Bears-Lions Preview 10/21/12

Chicago, Illinois-Try as they might to be professional the Bears and the Lions can't hide it. They just don't like each other.

This division rivarly has an extra bit of punch. A fight between Bears defensive back D.J. Moore and Lions quarterback Mathew Stafford triggered a melee last season.

"I mean, anybody in our division we're not going to like them, and they're not going to like us," says Jay Cutler.  "It's a game that we want to win, and they want to win, and it means a lot to each side. So we've got to do our best to go out and get the 'W."

"It just two divisional opponents," says Lovie Smith. "The NFC North is strong this year. We know the games have normally gone when we've played Detroit."

"You look forward to it as a division game," says Bears cornerback D.J. Moore. "You know you play them twice a year, it's a competitive game. But not for the reasons of last year. I think people get into it all the time on the field, so I just leave it on the field."

If the Bears are going to beat the Lions they'll need to start by containing Detroit's ferocious defensive line.

"You know obviously now they have all the bad guys or whatever," says Bears center Roberto Garza. "They're a good defense, they play tough and we have to be ready for a big challenge."

"Anybody that plays against this front and doesn't account for the fact that they can take over a game would kind of be foolish," says Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice.

The Bears have won seven of their last eight meetings against the Lions. The two teams split their two games last season.