Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions Prediction and Picks - Sunday, September 14
Two big NFC North rivals clash on Sunday, with each desperately needing a win after disappointing in Week 1. For great side and total picks on this game, read on for our Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions prediction and picks. Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm ET at Ford Field, home of the Lions.
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Bears let sure thing slip
The Chicago Bears (0-1) somehow contrived to lose their season opener from a seemingly invincible position. Up by 11 points going into the start of the fourth quarter, Chicago went on to concede three straight scores in the space of 10 minutes to the Vikings and go down 27-24, the team's 11th loss in its last 12 games in a run that stretches back to October 2024. The Bears put up 10 straight winless games last year to extinguish early playoff hopes and eventually finish with a 5-12 record, with head coach Matt Elberflus failing to make it to the end of the season.
His successor knows Sunday's rival well. Ben Johnson spent three years working under Lions supremo Dan Campbell as the team's offensive coordinator and will now try to impart some of this expertise in Chicago, in particular, young QB Caleb Williams. On the evidence of Week 1, there is still work to do. Beginning his second pro season, the No. 1 2024 Draft pick completed 21-35 attempts through the air for 210 yards and a TD, while also running in for an early score from nine yards out. His accuracy wasn't quite there, and there were costly mistakes, too, most notably an intentional grounding penalty at the end of the third quarter that opened the door for Minnesota to fight back into the game. The Bears' running game was almost non-existent too: excluding Williams, the rest of the Chicago offense managed just 61 rushing yards, with RB D'Andre Swift held to a modest 3.1 yds/carry on 17 runs. The Bears are waiting on cornerback Kyler Gordon (hamstring) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (knee), who were both non-participants in Thursday's practice.
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Lions take big loss
The Detroit Lions (0-1) seemed to still be dwelling on last year's painfully rapid postseason exit in Week 1. In 2024, they became only the second team to win 15 regular-season games and then get eliminated without a playoff win as they were shocked by Washington. If the Lions hope to match that mark and retain their NFC North title this time around, they will have to perform much better than in their season opener, as they went down to the Packers 27-13 at Lambeau Field.
Detroit was trailing by 10 points already in the first quarter and never recovered from there. The team paid the price for its ineffectiveness in the red zone, converting just 1-4 attempts, and some sub-standard running: the Lions managed just 46 yards on the ground and averaged 2.2 yards per carry. Jared Goff at least appeared to pick up where he left off in 2024, when he threw for a career-high 37 TDs and earned his fourth Pro Bowl call-up. Goff completed 31-39 passes for just 225 yards, one TD and one INT, with TE Sam LaPorta (6 recs, 79 yds) his principal outlet. For Sunday's game, Taylor Decker remains an injury doubt as he recovers from a shoulder issue. The bigger question is whether Goff and the offense miss Ben Johnson, who helped the team average 409.5 yards per game last season?
Spread Pick for Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions
- Lions -6 (five units)
This one looks like a big mismatch. The Lions disappointed a lot in Week 1, but they should still have enough to overpower Chicago and cover the spread at home on Sunday. They have taken five of the last six games against their NFC North rivals, with the Bears losing in all of their last three trips to Motor City. Detroit went 12-5 ATS last year and 4-2 in division games. Chicago was 2-5-1 ATS in 2024 playing as an away underdog.
Take the Lions.
Over/Under Pick for Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions
- Over 46.5 (five units)
Bears-Lions games tend toward the high-scoring. The average total over the last six playings of this matchup is 50.5 points, while in their last meeting Chicago and Detroit combined for 51 points as the Lions won out 34-17. The Tigers scored more points than any other team in the 2024 NFL regular season, averaging 33.18 per game. They went 10-8 on the over including the postseason and 6-4 playing as a home favorite. Chicago's season opener this year ended with a total of 51 points. The Bears were 3-3 on the over in division games in 2024.
Take the over.
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