The Bears currently rank 18th in the NFL in passing offense. They average about 221 yards per game through the air.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is completing 58% of his passes and is averaging 33 passing attempts per game.

The offense has completed 25 passes of 20-plus yards, but only four of 40-plus yards.

The longest pass play for the Bears offense came in Week Six on Sunday Night Football, when Jay Cutler found Devin Hester for a 56-yard touchdown pass.

With all that being said the Bears offense is going up against one of the better pass defenses in the NFL. The Detroit Lions allow the fifth fewest passing yards per game (193.6).

Opposing quarterbacks average passer rating against them this season is a mediocre 72.3. The longest pass play that they’ve allowed the entire season was 49 yards.

They have two more interceptions than touchdowns allowed and they allow just under six yards per pass play.

The defense also ranks fourth in the entire NFL in sacks, with 24 on the season. Defensive ends Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch are tied for the team in high sacks with five a piece.

Defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh (3) and Sammie Hill (2) have five sacks combined.

So, how can the Bears offense keep putting up good numbers tomorrow against Detroit?

The good news is the Bears are 5-1 this season when they are winning after the first quarter.

The bad news is the Bears were leading at the half, when these two teams last met on Monday Night Football in the Week Five loss.

Dane Sanzenbacher and Sam Hurd were the leaders in receiving yards in that game. I doubt that will happen tomorrow at Soldier Field.

With the return of Earl Bennett, the offense has been much more efficient on third downs and in the red zone.

Roy Williams, Johnny Knox, and Sanzenbacher will all be targeted on Sunday. Bennett will be the receiver the Lions key in on, while Knox and Sanzenbacher could find some open space.

With Devin Hester questionable (ankle), don’t expect for the Bears to use him very much on offense, if he suits up.

The Bears receivers against the Lions pass defense is a key matchup to watch tomorrow, when the Bears face the 6-2 Lions at Soldier Field.

The pass rush of the Lions is vicious, but with the Bears offensive line stepping up these past few weeks they might not be a big problem like they were in Week Five.

Keep in mind the Bears have averaged 31 points the past three weeks, so the Lions could be in trouble with Cutler putting up solid numbers lately.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.