Lions, Bears. Who finishes third in North?

CHICAGO -- A Sunday Four Downs while in Chicago to take in Game 1 of the losers' bracket of the NFC North ...

FIRST DOWN:

Neither one of these teams is good enough to get past the Packers or the Vikings in the NFC North. But the Lions seem to be laying a foundation of players who aren't Joey Harringtonesque.

There are a number of storylines in this losers' bracket matchup. The one I'll be watching closest is the Bears' offensive line versus the Lions' defensive line. The Lions have three new faces on the defensive line in tackles Ndamukong Suh and Corey Williams, and right end Kyle Vanden Bosch. The Bears' offensive line was a disaster during a preseason in which Jay Cutler was sacked 10 times in parts of three games.

Vanden Bosch vs. left tackle Chris Williams will be one of the best matchups to watch.

Considering the Lions visit the Metrodome in two weeks, it will be worth watching this game to see if the Lions' defense will be better with these guys up front leading the way. Remember, the Vikings struggle with the Lions far more than they should, even when Detroit stinks. So if the Lions are better, the Vikings could be in for a pre-bye week embarrassment in two weeks.

SECOND DOWN:

I think Loadholt is the long-term answer at left tackle, but to ask him to switch in the middle of the game means someone dropped the ball while putting this year's team together.

When you lose an Artis Hicks, someone better make sure the team goes out and gets another player to fill his vital role as the blind-side blocker for a 40-year-old man.

THIRD DOWN:

This feels like a turning-point type of week in the NFL. I have a feeling the Texans will beat the Colts, and the Patriots will be overwhelmed by Cincinnati's offense. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Detroit win this game, and St. Louis beat the Cardinals in Sam Bradford's debut. I'd take Bradford over Derek Anderson at their current experience levels any day.

FOURTH DOWN: