The Detroit Lions (10-4) will travel to meet the Chicago Bears (5-9) with the Lions’ three-game win streak on the line. Players will take the field Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET and the game will air on FOX.
Chicago and Detroit last met in Week 13, when the Lions put in another dominant performance and beat the Bears 34-17. Detroit has won the last three against the Bears, dating back to the 2013 season. Martellus Bennett had a great outing in the last game against the Lions, grabbing eight receptions for 109 yards. Alshon Jeffery added 71 yards and two TDs on nine receptions. Calvin Johnson had a big performance for Detroit, registering 11 catches for 146 yards and two TDs. Joique Bell had a big day as well, contributing 91 yards and two TDs on 23 carries.
Detroit is a four-point favorite in this game against the Bears. According to the oddsmakers, the Over/Under (O/U) is currently 47 points. Heading into Week 16 of league action, the Bears are 5-9 both Straight Up (SU) and Against The Spread (ATS). Over their last five games, the Bears have records of 2-3 both SU and ATS. The Bears utilize the air extensively at home. They pass 37.9 times per home game which is the fifth best in the NFL.
Over on the other sideline, the Lions head into Week 16 with records of 7-7 ATS and 10-4 SU. The Lions went 3-2 SU and 2-3 ATS over the last five games. If Chicago’s earlier games are any indication, the Lions should throw the ball more on offense. The Bears allow 272.2 passing yards per game, 31st in the NFL. Detroit’s league-best scoring defense doesn’t give up anything easily, only allowing 17.0 points per game this year. Detroit’s defense only gives up 63.8 yards per game on the ground, making them the No. 1 run defense in the NFL. To win, the Lions need to make the Bears turn the ball over. The Bears rank 29th in the league in turnovers with two per game. It shouldn’t be too hard for the Lions to start fast this week with Chicago’s defense allowing 5.6 points in the first quarter.
Predictions: SU Winner – DET, ATS Winner – DET, O/U – Under
Notes
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Detroit’s last 13 games.
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Chicago’s last 18 games.
Detroit is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games.
Chicago is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games.
Detroit is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games on the road.
Chicago is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit’s last 5 games on the road.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago’s last 5 games at home.
Detroit is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road.
Chicago is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games at home.
Detroit is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing Chicago.
Chicago is 3-13-1 ATS in its last 17 games at home.
Detroit is 4-0-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Chicago.
Chicago is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Detroit.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit’s last 6 games when playing Chicago.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago’s last 6 games when playing Detroit.
Detroit is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago.
Chicago is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing Detroit.
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Detroit.
Chicago is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Detroit.
Detroit is 7-1 SU when leading at the half this season. Chicago is 3-1 SU when taking a lead into halftime.
Detroit is 6-1 SU when leading at the start of the fourth quarter this season. Chicago is 4-1 SU when leading after three quarters.
This season, Detroit is 7-1 SU in games where it wins the turnover battle, and only 1-2 SU in games where it loses the turnover battle.
Chicago is undefeated (4-0 SU) in games where it wins the turnover battle, and only 1-9 SU in games where it loses the turnover battle.
The Chicago defense has forced an average of 2.0 turnovers per game this season, but Detroit is 8-1 SU when turning the ball over at least 2 times in a game.
Dating back to last year, Detroit is 8-2 SU against NFC North opponents, while Chicago is just 3-7 SU against division foes.
The Chicago passing attack is ranked 13th in the league, while the Detroit pass defense is only ranked 14th. The Lions’ passing game is ranked ninth, compared to the 31st-ranked pass defense of the Bears.
The Chicago rushing attack is ranked only 26th in the league, while the Detroit run defense is ranked first. The Lions’ rushing game is ranked just 30th, compared to the 16th-ranked run defense of the Bears.
