CHICAGO -- Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs admitted on Tuesday that his team doesn't like the Detroit Lions, not that it needed to be said after a bench-clearing fight last year, and Briggs doesn't expect anything less than full intensity when the teams meet on Monday night in Soldier Field.
"I think we don't like each other very much," Briggs said on "The Carmen, Jurko & Harry Show" on ESPN 1000. "We're real familiar with each other, but the last couple of times we played them there have been plenty of scuffles and fights and stuff. I don't think that's going to end this week, especially with it being a rival game and a game both teams must win."
Bears nickel back D.J. Moore found himself at the center of the controversy last season during the Bears' 37-13 victory on Nov. 13 when he got ejected after an altercation with Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford that caused both benches to clear. Moore was subsequently fined $15,000 for his role in the brawl, while Stafford and Detroit guard Rob Sims were docked $7,500 apiece.
Moore doesn't expect any extra-curricular activity this time.
"I don't think so, you never want your players to get out there and fight and get personal fouls and get kicked out the game and pretty much hand the other team penalties," Moore said Tuesday on "The Carmen, Jurko and Harry Show." "So I don't think so. I think everybody will play pretty good fundamental ball and try our best not to get fouls, or especially to get kicked out of the game."
The scuffle began when Tim Jennings picked off one of Stafford's four interceptions. As Jennings began his return, Stafford appeared to grab Moore by the back of his helmet and slam him to the turf, which prompted the Bears defender to get up and retaliate.
"The thing that upset me was that I really wasn't trying to block him or push him down," Moore said. "I was just trying to put my hands on him because I knew Tim was faster than both of us, so I knew he wasn't going to catch him if I wasn't. Once I got to him he pulled the back of my helmet, so it seemed to me like he was trying to do it on purpose because he wasn't trying to make a play on Tim.
"As soon as he pulled my head down I just got up and went back to the street mode."
Briggs said he doesn't have to explain to the Bears' young players the importance of not getting in street mode on Monday.
"At this point, they know what type of team we are," he said. "They know how to play. We're one of the least penalized teams in the league, and we're that way for a reason. It's because guys know how to play the game. They play the game the right way, and they're not getting caught cheating (he said laughing).
"I think that teams that do get penalized, it hurts them in a lot of ways. Everyone knows what it's going to be like, but it's also discussed during the week by all of our coaches. Rod Marinelli already touched on it a bit on Monday. Not just that it's Detroit but the importance of the win and putting ourselves in position for the playoffs. It's very difficult to get a win, and especially against teams like Detroit. They're a quality opponent."