Gene Chamberlain is a beat writer covering the Chciago Bears for Bears OnSI. He recently answered five questions from Lions OnSI to preview Sunday’s game between the two NFC North foes.
What are the biggest differences between from the Bears when they played Detroit on Thanksgiving to now?
Gene Chamberlain: The Bears are about half the team they were when they played Detroit at Thanksgiving. The biggest difference is if their defense hasn’t collapsed, it’s at least been knocked down several pegs by giving up too many big plays to good offenses. Losing Matt Eberflus as defensive play caller was devastating. Eric Washington hasn’t had any success with this in the NFL and has had the opportunities. Also, they don’t have either of their starting defensive tackles, which ruins their ability to stop the run. The 49ers ran whenever they wanted. The Vikings did too, but Kevin O’Connell gets bored running it more than 30% of the time. Then after the Bears can’t stop the run their pass defense and pass rush cave in. They’ve been playing defense without two key players for too long — safety Jaquan Brisker and DT Andrew Billings. The importance of losing Brisker can’t be stressed enough. They brought him into the box often to help stop the run and he played all over in the back, sometimes flipping with Kevin Byard deep to strong or back. He’s been out since Oct. 6 with his third concussion in three years. The Bears didn’t put him on IR but now they don’t even list him on their injury report each week either. It’s like he vanished. Pretty sad considering he got to play only 2-plus seasons.
Is Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson the popular candidate for Bears fans to take over the head coaching job? Who are other names that could interest the team?
Chamberlain: Johnson would be the majority fan favorite but the meatball section of Chicago, the Ditka sect, all want Mike Vrabel. There are a small number who really don’t seem to have thought it out but they like the idea of Kliff Kingsbury teamed with Caleb Williams even though every team he ever coached faded or collapsed. Joe Brady stirred up some sparks when they beat the Lions but it’s not catching hold like Johnson has, mainly because the Lions are in the division and have been watched closely by Bears fans.
What has been the root of the Bears’ offensive struggles in recent weeks?
Chamberlain: The combination of an inconsistent, overrated offensive line and a rookie quarterback who is being poorly developed. Again. Caleb Williams is on offensive coordinator No. 3 this year, Chris Beatty, and also on play caller No. 2 with interim head coach Thomas Brown. With that type of setup, it’s a wonder he hasn’t developed split personalities. Dan Orlovsky maintained Williams is the only QB among the first-rounders who hasn’t improved this year. He’s totally wrong. Williams has improved dramatically against the blitz. He forced the Vikings to retreat into playing base defensive coverage he was so good at it for two games. But, as Orlovsky also maintained, Williams isn’t making the little plays or easy plays that he normally had made in college.
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Caleb Williams had a strong fourth quarter against the Lions in the Thanksgiving matchup. What have been Williams’ strengths this year and could he take advantage of a beat-up Lions’ defense?
Chamberlain: His biggest strengths have been running the offense in no-huddle desperation mode because they’ve had to do it so much. Also, throwing on the move laterally and handling the blitz are strengths but lately his mechanics are getting worse and worse after 58 sacks taken, most in the league. He’s flinching. He’s definitely capable of taking advantage of Detroit’s short-handed defense if they look past the Bears or if the coaches allow that to happen by not putting in enough work on their game planning. The game means too much to Detroit for this to happen. Williams also rushes too many throws and his footwork is bad then, leading to overthrows or underthrows. And he misses occasional open receivers even though coaches defend him and say he hasn’t. He does and has.
Who wins and why?
Chamberlain: The Lions will win because the Bears can’t stop the run and have stopped running the ball since Brown became head coach/coordinator. Last week they finally did run but had only marginal success. D’Andre Swift finally broke a couple tackles last week and they need more of this. There is no doubt the Lions will run. Even without David Montgomery they will find ways to get this done against a Bears run defense now down to 26th in the league without Billings, Dexter and Brisker playing, one year after they were first against the run.
DETROIT, MI (WXYZ) — The Black Legacy Advancement Coalition’s Black Legacy Day celebration is an intergenerational, joy filled gathering in Detroit, centered around authentic joy and liberation.
On Saturday, May 30th, Detroiters, neighbors, partners and friends of every race, creed and background are invited to share in a day of reflection and fun. Highlights will include a food giveaway, a scavenger race, a men’s basketball tournament and free justice resources.
To learn more, visit www.theblac.co.
St. Hubert pastor discusses the Archdiocese of Detroit’s restructuring
The Rev. Douglas Bignall of St. Hubert Catholic Church in Harrison Township discusses the ongoing restructuring effort by the Archdiocese of Detroit on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
The list of churches targeted for the possible stoppage of weekend Masses has grown to at least 58 parishes across southeast Michigan, according to the latest proposed models the Archdiocese of Detroit had released as part of its major restructuring process through Friday.
At least 22 parishes under the first round of proposed models wouldn’t hold weekend Mass. The archdiocese has been divided into 15 planning areas, or geographic areas, and three or four models are being proposed for each planning area, said the Rev. Mario Amore, executive director of parish renewal for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
The archdiocese has been holding listening sessions with parishioners this spring as part of its restructuring plan to get reactions.
The models have different proposed groupings of parishes, in which a grouping would share a pastor and potentially other priests. In some cases, selected churches in the grouping would no longer hold Sunday Mass.
The Archdiocese of Detroit released on May 22 and this past week the model proposals for another five planning areas, including areas of Macomb County, Oakland County and Detroit. Around 36 more parishes would no longer hold Mass in the future under the latest proposals.
Bunches of churches in Detroit would be affected, while four parishes in Troy and three parishes in Clinton Township wouldn’t have Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass under each of the proposed models presented for their planning areas.
Archdiocese of Detroit spokesperson Holly Fournier said the archdiocese has heard a wide range of reactions about the proposed models, which is “understandable given how personal parish life is for people.”
“Some pastors and parishioners are hopeful about opportunities for stronger collaboration and renewed ministry, while others are experiencing more uncertainty and concern, especially in places where one or more models suggest a parish might no longer host weekend Masses in the future,” she said.
Fournier emphasized that the models are “draft models” and aren’t final decisions.
The models for the final six planning areas will be released in June, according to the restructuring website.
The models are part of the archdiocese’s biggest restructuring plan in years. Announced last fall, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said the archdiocese can’t maintain the roughly 200 existing parish buildings it has and is working to “right-size” the archdiocese, along with its personnel and financial resources.
Fournier said the draft models were developed by priests earlier this year and are being presented in listening sessions as proposals “meant to spark broader consultation with the faithful.” Each parish in the archdiocese is holding listening sessions this spring or early summer.
In other dioceses that have undergone restructuring processes like the Archdiocese of Detroit’s, as many as 20-40% of the initial models were changed as a result of parishioner feedback, Fournier said.
“That is why it is so important for Catholics to attend their parish listening sessions to view these models and provide their honest feedback, so informed adjustments can be made where necessary,” she said in an email.
One of the most heavily affected groupings is Planning Area 1, which includes west Detroit. Ten of its 13 parishes would not have Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass in at least one of the model plans. They include Christ the King, Presentation/Our Lady of Victory, SS. Peter and Paul (Jesuit), SS. Peter and Paul (Westside), St. Charles Lwanga Church, St. Mary of Redford, St. Moses the Black Parish, St. Peter Claver Parish, St. Scholastica and St. Suzanne-Our Lady Gate of Heaven, all of which are in Detroit.
Planning Area 9, which includes southeastern Oakland County, has between 15 and 19 parishes, depending on the model. Ten of the parishes wouldn’t hold weekend Mass in at least one of the models. Four of them are in Troy.
They include St. Lucy in Troy, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Troy, Christ Our Light in Troy, St. Thomas More in Troy, St. Owen in Bloomfield Township, Our Lady of La Salette in Berkley, Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Oak Park, St. Justin-St. Mary Magdalen in Hazel Park, St. Vincent Ferrer in Madison Heights and Divine Providence in Southfield.
Planning Area 10, which includes all of northern Oakland County and parts of western Oakland County, has 19 to 22 parishes, depending on the model. Seven would stop holding weekend Mass in at least one of the models, including St. Benedict in Waterford Township, St. Thomas More in Troy, Sacred Heart in Auburn Hills, St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish in Auburn Hills, St. Perpetua in Waterford Township, St. Rita in Holly and Prince of Peace in West Bloomfield Township.
Planning Area 12, which includes parts of southern and eastern Macomb County, has 16 parishes. Four Warren parishes and three Clinton Township parishes would stop holding Mass under the draft models.
St. Louise de Marillac in Warren wouldn’t hold Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass in two of the three draft models presented by the archdiocese. Six other parishes would not hold weekend Mass in only one of the models, including St. Louis in Clinton Township, San Francesco in Clinton Township, St. Ronald in Clinton Township, St. Martin de Porres in Warren, St. Faustina in Warren and St. Mark in Warren.
Planning Area 13, which includes areas of central and northern Macomb County and a parish in Troy, has 14 or 16 parishes, depending on the draft model. Three parishes in the planning area wouldn’t have weekend Mass under at least one of the models: St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Sterling Heights, St. Matthias in Sterling Heights and SS. John and Paul in Washington Township.
Amore said that if a church stops holding Sunday Mass, parishioners are encouraged to worship at other churches in their “pastorate,” which is a grouping of parishes overseen by a pastor. In the long term, the church building might close, or other sacramental celebrations might take place there, such as weddings and baptisms, he said.
The parish’s buildings could also be repurposed for other uses, such as religious education classes.
Fournier said the proposed models are meant to “foster discussion and discernment.”
“We encourage Catholics to stay engaged in the process, share their feedback honestly, and remember that the goal is not simply organizational change, but ensuring vibrant Catholic communities for future generations,” she said.
asnabes@detroitnews.com
Detroit’s dining scene just got even more flavorful with the opening of Sunda New Asian, bringing modern Southeast Asian cuisine to the city.
Restaurant owner Billy Dec joins the show to share what guests can expect from the new hotspot, from bold dishes and incredible cocktails to an energetic atmosphere.
Watch the video above to see what’s cooking up at Sunda New Asian.
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