Reggie Bush has rejuvenated the Detroit Lions run game this season and as the team looks to take hold of the division, he is ready for yet another big game. The Lions face the Chicago Bears for a second time this season in Week 10. After a successful first matchup, Bush is ready for bigger numbers the second time around.
In Week 4, Bush rushed for 139 yards. He ripped through the Bears defensive front, putting up one of his best performances of the year. Now with Chicago having injuries racking up on defense, Bush thinks he can take advantage of the rival team.
"We have to be able to take advantage of obviously the holes that we see," Bush said, via the Detroit Free Press. " Obviously they're going to do their part this week at trying to plug up some of those holes. And it's our job to try to exploit some of those. We feel like there is some room for us to take advantage of them in the run game. We just have to make sure we go in and play fundamentally sound."
The Bears have had a suspect run defense for most of the season. The team is giving up 127.5 yards per game, ranking them 29th in the league among all NFL teams. After linebacker Lance Briggs was lost for the season, the team gave up 199 total yards against teams like Green Bay with rookie Eddie Lacy. Bush is a much bigger risk.
Bears head coach Marc Trestman understands that Chicago's defense will really have to be on their toes with Bush. The head coach believes it all comes down to tackling.
"We didn't tackle him," Trestman told Detroit reporters on a conference call. "No. 1, we didn't fit the run well, and No. 2, he played exceptionally well and he made people miss. He's a difference-making player in the run and the pass. We've got to do a better job this time in working this week to try to neutralize him."
So where does that leave the rest of the Bears team? Bush could be the leading offensive player on Sunday. Calvin Johnson will likely face a healthy Charles Tillman who is proving to be a top cornerback in the league. He could actually make Johnson have a mere mortal day, allowing Bush to really shine. Backup Joique Bell could put up come decent games. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan is excited by the potential of both backs on Sunday.
"I thought our guys did a really nice job of obviously playing very physical," Linehan said. "But we did a good job of staying on blocks and opening holes for Reggie. He had a really good game, and Joique (Bell) had some good runs. But I thought our front did a good job of opening up holes and getting Reggie to that second level, getting him to that secondary. And when you can do that with a guy like Bush, then you're going to have some big plays."