It’s supposed to be a cold 34° degree day at Soldier Field for the Lions at Bears betting matchup on Sunday, is that going to kill what looks like it would’ve been an extremely high scoring game? Both Detroit and Chicago have shown the propensity to put up points in bunches recently – but also not stop anybody at the same time.
The Lions’ (2-6) 15-9 win over Green Bay last week was an anomaly, as Detroit had allowed 24+ points in each of their previous seven games this season and are also averaging 23.5 ppg on the year. Chicago (3-6) has averaged 30.5 ppg their last two – and have lost both games. Sunday’s O/U is 48.5 and the Bears are -3 point home favorites.
Lions Defense Showed Up
Detroit had by far their best defensive showing of the season last Sunday, holding Aaron Rodgers to 0-4 in the red zone in beating Green Bay 15-9 as +4 point home underdogs. That snapped a 5-game losing streak by the Lions, but the win also has to be taken with a grain of salt is it was the fifth straight loss by the Packers.
What is somewhat lost in the win over Green Bay was that Detroit also scored only 15 points. This is not the Lions offense we saw losing 38-35 to Philadelphia or falling 48-45 to Seattle or even beating Washington 36-27 for that matter. Aside from a 31-27 loss to Miami in week 8, the Lions’ most recent games have been a 29-0 loss in New England and a 24-6 defeat to Dallas to go along with the Packers win.
The good news for Detroit is that they should be able to get things going in the Lions at Bears matchup against a struggling Chicago defense. The Bears are allowing 42 ppg their last two, giving up 200 rush yards in a 49-29 loss to Dallas and 302 pass yards in a 35-32 loss to the Dolphins.
Bears Offense Playing Well
While it may not be the most conventional offense out there, Chicago has used designed QB runs from Justin Fields to average 31.3 ppg over their last three. Last week Fields put up Michael Vick Madden numbers, running the ball 15 times for 178 yards while throwing 3 TD passes and running for another.
It’s largely due to Fields who has 320 yards in the last three weeks alone, but the Bears have risen to the top of the NFL in rushing offense 195.4 ypg. That also goes with the league’s worst passing offense (125.7) but Chicago should start to show improvement in that as Chase Claypool plays in his second game with the team. OC Luke Getsy also did a much better job getting TE Cole Kmet involved in the Bears offense last week as he had 5 catches for 41 yards and 2 TDs.
Free Lions at Bears Betting Pick
Detroit’s offense isn’t as intimidating as it was early in the season, but D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams could both have breakout games vs. a Bears rush defense that is 30th in the NFL. Chicago held Miami to 23 carries for 77 yards last week, but that was mostly because the Dolphins didn’t need to run with their passing game being so productive.
The Bears are close to a breakout game on both sides of the ball, kind of like their Monday night trip to New England where they won 33-14. They get it here.
Pick: Bears -3
