LAKE FOREST Eddie Goldman Color Rush Jersey , Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have a rare opportunity to beat the Detroit Lions and pick up a victory over an NFC North opponent.As accomplishments go, those seem rather modest. Then again, consider their recent history.The division-leading Bears have a chance to check off two more boxes when they host the struggling Lions on Sunday.They have lost nine of the past 10 games against Detroit and have dropped 10 in a row to division opponents heading into their matchup at Soldier Field.Since the start of the 2014 season, Chicago is 4-21 against the NFC North. But these Bears aren’t those Bears.Chicago (5-3) hit the halfway mark with its best record in five years and sole possession of the NFC North lead for the first time since 2013. It’s a big change for a franchise with four straight last-place finishes. But the Bears have already matched their win total from last year and are making a push for their first playoff appearance since the 2010 team advanced to the NFC championship game.“There’s just so much ball left,” said coach Matt Nagy, in his first season. “For our team, we’ve won in different ways and we’ve lost in different ways. I think we’ve kind of learned different ways to do it. And when you lose, you try to figure out why and how to not let it happen again. When you win, you figure out why and how you can always improve and be better. I like where we’re at, but we understand we have a ways to go.”Chicago is coming off back-to-back wins over two struggling teams, with a 41-9 blowout at Buffalo after beating the New York Jets at home.Detroit (3-5) has dropped two in a row and last week’s 24-9 loss at Minnesota was particularly ugly. Matthew Stafford got sacked 10 times, and the Lions were held to single digits in points for the first time since a 17-6 loss to the New York Giants on Dec. 18, 2016.They also traded wide receiver Golden Tate to Philadelphia prior to the Vikings game, and they fired special teams coordinator Joe Marciano on Monday night.“Definitely have to learn from some of those things that we’ve done in the past that haven’t been up to par or haven’t been good enough, and try to minimize those or eliminate them as we go forward Marcus Cooper Jersey ,” coach Matt Patricia said. “That’s the most important thing.”Here are some things to know about the matchup:ON THE MENDThe Bears might get star outside linebacker Khalil Mack (ankle) and top receiver Allen Robinson (groin) back from injuries.Both players missed the past two games. But they went through full practices on Wednesday. Tight end Adam Shaheen might also return from a foot injury he suffered in the preseason.ANSAH BACKThe Lions got a boost last week with the return of defensive end Ziggy Ansah.He had a sack in the second quarter that forced the Vikings to settle for a field goal, after missing six games because of a shoulder injury. Having Ansah back means more pressure on the quarterback and maybe better luck stopping the run. The Lions rank 30th in that area.“We’ve just got to set an edge and whoever has got a gap to be in, they’ve just got to be in there,” Ansah said. “Just play fundamental and be able to execute.”FAMILIAR FOESThe Bears are about to meet the Lions twice in a 12-day span, with a Thanksgiving matchup at Ford Field and a primetime Sunday game against Minnesota at home in between.This three-game run facing the NFC North comes after four in row against the AFC East. Chicago hasn’t played a division team since a 24-23 season-opening loss at Green Bay, when it blew a 20-point lead against an injured Aaron Rodgers.STRUGGLING STAFFORDAfter a solid stretch, Stafford has struggled a bit the past two weeks with 13 sacks and a 90.3 rating. He had ratings above 100 in each of the previous five games.“He’s been with the Lions for all of his career and he has a great group of receivers, and for some reason they’re not putting games together,” Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara said. “But they’re still a great team and I know for a fact we won’t take them lightly.”GETTING OFFENSIVEWhile a defense that ranks fifth overall has gotten much of the credit, the Bears insist their offense is doing its part.Though Trubisky has been wild at times, his rating (96.1) is similar to Stafford’s (96.5). Chicago also ranks fifth in the NFL in scoring. CHICAGO (AP) — It was ugly and sloppy — and it was also a win for Los Angeles. That’s what mattered most to Philip Rivers and the Chargers.Chicago kicker Eddy Pineiro missed a 41-yard field goal as time expired and Los Angeles hung on to beat the Bears 17-16 on Sunday.“We just needed a win, any way — 35-0, 2-0, 3-2 or 17-16,” Rivers said. “It’s just good to win.”Article continues below ...The Bears (3-4) took over at their 35 with 1:33 remaining and had a chance to win it after driving all the way to the 21. Chicago had quarterback Mitchell Trubisky take a knee with about 40 seconds left rather than try to get closer to the goal line because coach Matt Nagy didn’t want to risk a fumble. And Pineiro https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Kyle-Fuller-Jersey , who hit an upright on a miss earlier, drove the potential winner wide left as time expired.“I hit the ball as best I could and tried to play the wind a little bit. I just didn’t make it,” he said.The miss allowed the Chargers (3-5) to snap a three-game losing streak and avoid their first 0-4 October since 2000, while the Bears (3-4) dropped their third in a row. Los Angeles also picked up its first victory in seven road games all-time against Chicago and its first win at Soldier Field after losing four.Rivers threw an 11-yard touchdown to Austin Ekeler in the fourth quarter to put the Chargers on top with just over eight minutes left after Melvin Ingram III recovered a fumble by Trubisky in Chicago territory.Rivers was 19 of 29 for 201 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Melvin Gordon ran for a score. Joey Bosa had two of Los Angeles’ four sacks , and the Chargers picked up their first victory since Sept 29 at Miami after losing three by seven points or fewer.Rookie David Montgomery ran for a career-high 135 yards and one touchdown, after Chicago set a franchise low with seven rushing attempts the previous week against New Orleans.Trubisky completed 23 of 35 passes for 253 yards an interception and a lost fumble that led to the go-ahead touchdown. The Bears also came away with just one touchdown and three field goals in five trips inside the 20. And the Chargers sensed they were rattling Trubisky.“Yes sir, yes sir,” Ingram said. “You could feel it all game. We’re going to rush no matter what’s going on. We’re going to keep rushing, keep rushing, and sooner or later we’re going to get there. We had a couple sacks today, and that’s what it’s all about. It’s not about just sacks. It’s about him feeling us, and I felt like he felt our presence today.”DOWN THE STRETCHMontgomery capped a 75-yard touchdown drive to start the second half when he ran it in from the 4 following a 31-yard reception by Allen Robinson, stretching Chicago’s lead to 16-7. The Chargers then drove to the 2, but settled for a 20-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin after Ekeler got stopped on third down.They missed another huge opportunity after Casey Hayward Jr. returned an interception 37 yards to the 20 early in the fourth. Keenan Allen dropped a 24-yard pass in the end zone on third down and McLaughlin missed the field goal.But Trubisky lost a fumble that Ingram — back after missing three games with a hamstring injury — recovered for Los Angeles. The Chargers took over on the Bears’ 26 Bryce Callahan Color Rush Jersey , and grabbed a 17-16 lead on the touchdown catch by Ekeler, who ducked under Danny Trevathan before crossing the goal line.“We were just trying to show heavy play action and come through the line, try to spread out free, hopefully they get caught down inside the line,” Ekeler said, “And it ended up happening like that. Got in space and then used my leverage to my advantage, got underneath the guy and got in the end zone.”FOR KICKSNagy insisted he has “ultimate faith” and “ultimate trust” in Pineiro.“He’s going to be the first one to tell you that he wants to come back out here and he wants another opportunity at that shot, at that kick,” he said. “So that’s all we can do is next time he gets that chance, he puts it right down the middle.”The kicking position was a huge sticking point for Chicago last season, when Cody Parkey struggled. They won the NFC North at 12-4, only to lose the wild-card game to Philadelphia at Soldier Field when his attempt in the closing seconds missed off the upright and crossbar.INJURIESChargers: LT Russell Okung made his debut after being sidelined by pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots, then exited with a calf injury that he thinks is minor. He said he thinks he will practice this week.The Chargers were without starting DLs Brandon Mebane (knee) and Justin Jones (shoulder).Bears: LB Isaiah Irving left in the second quarter with a quad injury.UP NEXTChargers: Host Green Bay next Sunday.Bears: Visit Philadelphia next Sunday.