ALLEN PARK — The last time Detroit faced Chicago – a month ago on Monday Night Football – running back Jahvid Best was dynamite for the Lions. He carried the ball just 12 times, but made the most of the opportunity, rushing for 163 yards, including an 88-yard touchdown run.
But the speedster is all but ruled out of Sunday's meeting between the NFC North rivals, which leaves Detroit without the explosiveness in the backfield.
Or does it?
Head coach Jim Schwartz thinks Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams can still provide some pop from behind the line of scrimmage.
"I wouldn't say we don't have explosiveness," said Jim Schwartz. "We haven't had anybody break off an 88-yarder, but we've had guys break off a 30-yarder, and things like that."
Morris, the Lions' well-rounded backup tailback, reeled off a 31-yard run against Atlanta and has averaged 5 yards per carry since spelling Best in Detroit's starting lineup. Williams had an 18-yard run in the Falcons game and has averaged 3.6 yards per carry in the last two games.
"All our guys have a little different skill set; different things that they do well; plays they run differently than others," Schwartz said, "but all our guys have the ability to break long runs.
"Jahvid obviously has more speed than our other backs, but all of them have the ability and all of them have broken long runs for us this year."