Detroit Lions centre Dominic Raiola has challenged the comments made by Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall about the team.

Marshall criticised the Lions, calling them the Bears' "annoying little brother", before referencing the troubled economic climate in the city of Detroit.

However, Raiola believes that both the city and the Lions are on the right track and questioned whether Marshall had got the roles of the teams the right way round having helped his side complete a clean sweep over the Bears this season.

"I think the writing's on the wall right there. So who's the big brother, who's the little brother? It's .500, it's 50-50," Raiola told reporters.

"I know Detroit's making a comeback of their own and we're on the right track and we're just the football team here. He's talking about the economic, whatever, financial situation of the city and it has nothing to do with us as a football team.

"Us as a football team is a reflection of how we are as a city, and we've got the city's back and that's what we're going to keep doing."

The Lions currently lead the way in the NFC North, one win above the Bears who are tied in second place with the Green Bay Packers.