Stock up, stock down: Bears-Lions II

Now that those Thanksgiving meals are just questionable leftovers in the fridge, we need to take one final look back at Thursday’s game.

Like those leftovers, we’ll give the game a look back with the same eye you do the dinner roll with the mold spot on it; We know it was good then, but does that really change that you know what it is now?

The Bears beating the Lions doesn’t change the fact that the playoffs are most likely out of the question or that they still haven’t proven to be a good team, it merely proves that they aren’t going to finish in last place in the NFC North.

That doesn’t mean that the Bears didn’t have some performances worth celebrating on Thursday — or that some players didn’t play well — but in this disappointing season, we have to take what we can get and celebrate the small stuff.

Stock up

Anthony Miller, WR - Miller had his second 100-yard game of his career while hitting career marks with nine receptions for 140 yards. While he still hasn’t found the end-zone this season, he now has at least six catches in three straight games and maybe, just maybe, things are starting to click for the second-year receiver and his chemistry with Mitchell Trubisky is gelling.

Roquan Smith, ILB - Other than a down game against the Giants, Smith now has double digit tackles in four of his last five games as well as notching two sacks. He was credited with 10 solo tackles, two tackles for loss and two QB hits.

Kyle Fuller, CB - He may not have the interception numbers or the All-Pro momentum he had a year ago, but Fuller is still playing at a high level. He tied his season-high for tackles with seven and had a pass deflection. The big highlight was obviously the shoestring tackle he made of J.D. McKissic on third and one at the Bears’ five yard line.

Stock down

Prince Amukamara, CB - Prince got burned alive by Kenny Golladay, who had himself a nice feast against the Bears’ secondary. Maybe there was missing safety help on the 75-yard touchdown in the first quarter, but other plays, Prince just got straight up beat.

Javon Wims, WR - As a receiver, Wims had a good day. As a blocker, not so much. He’s still a young player and with the injuries the team has to the receiver and tight end corps I think we’ll continue to see more of him, but his two illegal block penalties were killer.

Aaron Lynch, LB - Lynch has now been called for five neutral zone or offsides penalties this year. He’s played in less than one quarter of the defensive snaps (22 percent) this year. That’s way too many for a role player like that.

Who would you have in each category that I missed?