Our On Paper previews have a tough job early in the season. For an analysis piece that relies so heavily on data, the first few weeks of the season deal with incredibly small sample sizes and last year’s outdated metrics.

For the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, last year’s data may not mean much. The Bears have a completely new coaching staff and new offensive and defensive schemes that they brought with them. The Lions may be holding onto the same schemes, but with two new coordinators, it may not look exactly the same.

So while this week’s On Paper preview between the Lions and Bears will have the same charts you’re used to seeing, I will not be relying on that data much. Instead, there will be a heavier emphasis on Week 1 performances, with the acknowledgement that those small sample

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