Detroit Lions Face Off Against Chicago Bears in Key NFC North Showdown

The Detroit Lions (12-2) will take on the Chicago Bears (4-10) this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, with the game being aired on FOX. BetMGM has established the Lions as 7½-point favorites in this matchup. When it comes to betting trends, the Lions are 9-5 against the spread while the Bears stand at 6-6-2. Historically, the Bears lead the series with an impressive record of 105-79-5; however, the Lions emerged victorious in their most recent encounter, winning 23-20 in Detroit on November 28.

Last week, the Lions faced a tough loss against Buffalo, going down 48-42, while the Bears also struggled, falling to Minnesota with a score of 30-12. Statistically, the Lions boast one of the stronger offenses in the league, sitting at second overall, sixth in rushing, second in passing, and leading in scoring. Conversely, the Bears have had difficulties, ranking 32nd in total offense, although their scoring sits at 25th overall.

On the defensive side, the Lions are ranked 14th overall, with standout performances in rush defense (6th) but lagging in pass defense (26th). The Bears, on the other hand, find themselves 24th in total defense, 26th against the rush, and 19th defending the pass.

A crucial aspect of the game is the turnover differential; the Lions find themselves at plus-7, while the Bears are at plus-10. The key player to watch on the Lions is defensive end Za’Darius Smith, who was acquired from Cleveland. With injuries affecting the Lions’ defensive line, Smith aims to make a significant impact given his three sacks in five games since joining the team. Despite not recording a hit against quarterback Josh Allen last week, Smith previously showcased his capabilities with multiple quarterback hits and sacks.

For the Bears, quarterback Caleb Williams is under scrutiny. After being crowned the No. 1 overall draft pick, his performance has faltered, leading to 58 sacks—an alarming statistic that stands as both a league-leading and franchise record. Williams struggled in the latest loss, throwing for only 191 yards and missing several open receivers, following an encouraging start earlier in the season. The offensive line continues to be a concern, but some accountability also lies with the quarterback.

A vital individual matchup will feature Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs against the Bears’ defensive line. With the loss of running back David Montgomery to injury, Gibbs will need to step up. He currently ranks sixth in the NFL for rushing yards with 1,047 and is tying for the league lead in touchdowns with 11 rushing scores.

Both teams also have significant injury concerns before the game. The Lions had a high of 18 players on injured reserve, compounded by severe injuries to key players such as Montgomery, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, and cornerback Carlton Davis. The Bears’ situation isn’t much better; safety Jaquan Brisker has been out with a concussion, and running back Roschon Johnson recently returned to full practice after being sidelined. Additionally, left tackle Braxton Jones and backup guard Ryan Bates remain in concussion protocols.

In terms of series history, Detroit has performed well against Chicago recently, winning four of the last five games. After Thanksgiving, the Bears made a sweeping change by firing head coach Matt Eberflus. The final moments of the last game showed questionable decision-making on the part of the Bears, leading to significant late-game errors.

As for recent stats, the Lions’ 11-game winning streak came to an end last week, marking how close the team is to breaking the franchise record for single-season wins. Detroit can surpass last year’s total of 11 wins as they play their final games against strong contenders. Meanwhile, the Bears are on an eight-game losing streak, having not tasted victory since their win over Jacksonville in London on October 13. Chicago’s struggles include being outscored significantly in the first quarter this season and setting a franchise record for sacks allowed.

In fantasy terms, while Jared Goff hasn’t traditionally excelled against the Bears, he may find himself leaning on the pass more due to Montgomery’s absence. Goff recently had a standout performance against Buffalo, throwing for 494 yards with five touchdowns, and has been busy attempting passes throughout the season’s last games.