Not pretty, but Bears get the better of Lions

When a grizzly bear surprised the two campers around their fire, one yelled, Run!
 
The second yelled, You cant outrun a bear!
 
To which the first hollered over his shoulder, I dont have to outrun the bear. I only have to outrun you!
 
It really doesnt matter (yet) whether the Bears are a very good team, only that they are better than the ones they play. Right now they are, particularly the Detroit Lions, who are now officially not a good football team. Not well coached, not well much of anything.
 
But the more important point as far as the Bears were concerned Monday night was the Bears were better than they were, 13-7 better, the lowest point total for a Bears win since the 10-0 handling of the New York Jets in 2010.
 
The result Monday night was a win that may have lacked the flash or the flash points of recent Bears-Lions games. But the more important point as far as the Bears were concerned Monday night was they were better than the Lions were, 13-7 better -- the lowest point total for a Bears win since the 10-0 handling of the New York Jets in 2010.
 
Only the Atlanta Falcons (6-0) have fewer than the Bears one loss. Lovie Smith teams have now won six of the last seven times playing after week off, a testament to preparation and coaching.
 
Were 5-1, Smith said. Thats the position we wanted to be in.
 
For point of reference: The Lions also won last week after their week off. They committed 17 penalties in that game. So much for focus and tightening up. And against the Bears the coaches called 52 pass plays and 15 run plays despite backs averaging 5 yards per carry. Bears defenders talk about stopping the run and making a team one-dimensional. Lions coach Jim Schwartz did that for them.
 
The Bears took the ball away from the Lions four times, making for a total of 10 over the last two times the teams played in Soldier Field, where Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford remains winless for his career. And safeties Chris Conte and Major Wright had near-interceptions in their hands or the total would have been higher.
 
The offense wasnt particularly good, just good enough, with a first-quarter first-possession touchdown, only the second first-quarter TD of the season (Indianapolis).
 
Neither Stafford nor Jay Cutler posted a passer rating as high as 80. But Cutler did his with damaged ribs, five sacks and nine hits. Stafford was sacked three times. He may have thrown for 5,000 yards last year but thats a stat, not leadership, and the Bears have more of that, top to bottom, than the Lions.
 
That doesnt necessarily mean theyre as good as they need or are going to be. But they are 5-1 and thats enough right now to outrun the grizzly. And clearly the Lions.
 
Were not concerned with stats and whos the best, this or that, said defensive end Julius Peppers, who had a sack and two hits on Stafford. Were just trying to get better.
Box score