Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions Predictions, Odds, Picks

• The 3-7 Chicago Bears have been stronger on defense (11th) than on offense (31st)
• Lions starting QB Jared Goff (oblique) might sit out and backup Tim Boyle may play
• Detroit has lost their last eight matchups at home in Ford Field

Bears vs Lions Odds

Our Pick:

Until they earn a single win, Detroit is tough to bet on so take Chicago to win (-180)

So far this season the 3-7 Chicago Bears have been stronger on defense (11th) than on offense (31st) but against this winless Lions team who knows how much offense they will need, and with QB Justin Fields (ribs) injured and not likely to play on so short a week, it could be up to veteran Andy Dalton to lead a Bears team to a divisional win to keep them in the playoff wildcard hunt.

The winless Detroit Lions are in line to snag the first overall pick in the next NFL Draft right now but don’t assume that will keep Dan Campbell’s fierce young bunch from fighting hard for their first victory, but chances are Lions starting QB Jared Goff (oblique) will have to sit this one out and backup Tim Boyle will play, but last week he threw two picks and zero TDs in another loss.

These two NFC North rivals have played each other 183 other times, with the Detroit Lions winning 75 of those games and the Chicago Bears winning 103 of the games, plus there have been 5 ties.

Bears vs Lions Week 12 Predictions

Can Bears Veteran QB Andy Dalton Regain the Starting Role?

After starting the first two games of the season and winning one Chicago Bears starting quarterback Andy Dalton went down to injury and since then he has gotten healthy and played in two games including last week when he threw for two touchdowns against the Ravens.

Now with rookie QB Justin Fields (oblique) most likely out, Dalton will get the starting nod under center on Thanksgiving Day, a chance for him to earn back his role as starter against a Lions defense ranked 27th in the league.

Dalton will have a trio of targets to throw to including receivers Allen Robinson, Darnell Mooney, and Marquise Goodwin plus tight end Kmet Cole, all young players ready to step into the limelight and shine as they take on one of the worst teams in the league this season.

Can Lions Backup QB Tim Boyle Lead Detroit to its First 2021 Win?

There is not too much data on Lions backup quarterback Tim Boyle, a 27-year old third-year pro who has only started one NFL game in his lifetime, and that was last week when the Lions lost to the Browns 10-13 in a game that, short of a few mistakes, could have gone Boyle’s way.

Boyle is a 6’ 4” 233 pound East Kentucky alum who started his pro career with the Green Bay Packers, so far with a completion percentage of 66.7 in his short career having completed 18 total passes for 92 yards and no touchdowns over his two and a half NFL seasons.

At times Boyle looked efficient against the Browns, hitting his check-down receivers when necessary while avoiding any sacks, so expect him to play with a bit more confidence this week, especially at home at Ford Field in front of friendly Lions fans.

Bears Key Player: (RB) David Montgomery

For the Chicago Bears to be successful in the NFC North they need a productive run game to center the team around, and right now they have a top-6 rushing attack that averages over 132 yards on the ground per game this season.

A key factor in that has been David Montgomery, a talented running back who can also catch the ball, this season with 105 total touches for 505 yards from scrimmage and 3 total touchdowns, all in 6 games, having missed some playing time due to a knee sprain.

Now the 5’ 11” 224 pound Montgomery gets to take on a Detroit defense that has struggled to stop NFL running backs, so watch for him to have a big game as he gives QB Dalton a counter punch to the pass game while giving him a sure-handed checkdown option.

Lions Key Player: (TE) T.J. Hockenson

One of the bright spots on the Detroit Lions this season is tight end T.J. Hockenson, now in his third NFL season all with Detroit, a confident receiver and talented blocker who finds himself something to do on every play.

This season Hockenson has caught 54 passes off 73 targets for yards 499 and 2 touchdowns in the ten games he’s played in giving starting QB Jared Goff and now his backup Tim Boyle a solid target to count on.

Expect Hockenson to play a major role in this Thanksgiving showdown, his size (6’ 5” and 248 pounds) and relative speed making him the perfect playmaker for the Lions to build a game plan around.

How to Watch Bears vs Lions