Bears vs. Lions Prediction: Thanksgiving Day Feast |
The topic of the week is how the Chicago Bears will lose this week. As silly as that sounds, it's the truth. The Bears are not only suffering painful loss after painful loss, but they continue to find new ways to lose, which makes it sting that much more.
It's hard to believe that this team came one play away from being 5-2 on the season, only to have the Washington Commanders put an end to that with a Hail Mary that resulted in a walk-off win. Chicago has been in a tailspin ever since, as they have dropped four additional games since that play, extending their losing streak to five straight games. Things aren't going to get any easier as the Lions are embarking on a short week and prepping for a game against the Division Leaders in the Detroit Lions. This team has been nothing short of impressive this season, and when you look at many of their games, it seems like this team is on a mission. They are the overwhelming Superbowl Favorites in the NFC right now, and should the Bears find a way to pull off this upset, it would be a statement win for them. Here are some things to look for during the game:
Whether this team wins or loses, the most important thing is to continue to let Caleb Williams be Caleb Williams. Ever since Brown took over the play-calling duties, the fans have seen a different Williams, as he has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL the past two weeks. Not only is he being more aggressive with the football and trusting his arm, but his accuracy has greatly improved, as he is going through his progressions much better than earlier in the season. Brown has also unleashed the element of his legs, as playing off script and using his legs is a massive part of his game, and for him to be at his best, he needs those legs. The most important thing to take away is that Williams is playing the best football of his career right now and is doing so without turning the ball over. That is huge for a rookie, and if Williams continues to play the way he is right now, the Bears' future will be in great hands moving forward.
This is a game of contrasting styles, as one of the best defenses is going up against the best offense in the NFL. When all else fails, Chicago has always been able to count on its defense to keep things close, and that alone is what has kept it in the game most weeks. Well, the defense will be put to the test this week, as Detroit is a different animal offensively. From the two-headed monster in the backfield of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs to the passing attack of Jared Goff and company, the Lions offense doesn't have a single weakness, as they are crushing opponents. No one talks about their offensive line, as this is by far the best offensive line in football. There is a reason why this team has had the success it has, and it's because the offensive line keeps the pressure off Goff, which allows him to do what he does offensively. For the Bears to have a chance at an upset, they need to put pressure on Goff in hopes of taking him off his game.
When Cairo Santos saw his potential game-winning field goal against the Packers get blocked, it was a harsh reality of how low he kicks the ball. One week later, Santos saw another kick blocked against the Minnesota Vikings, and ironically, it came from the same side of the field and the same side of the line. While that kick didn't win the game, you could make the case that it lost the game, as a late-game field goal was needed just to tie the game and send it into OT. Had Santos made his first kick, the game wouldn't have gone into OT, and the Bears would have beaten an outstanding Vikings team. Who knows what that could've done for their confidence the rest of the way? Santos has been one of the most accurate kickers in the game the past three seasons, but with teams knowing that he kicks the ball lower than most, they will do what they can to get a hand on it. You have seen that happen the last two weeks, and given the way Dan Campbell coaches, the Bears need to be on their toes this week. Detroit does a great job of exploiting your weaknesses, and field goal blocking is a weakness right now for the Bears. Chicago better hope this game doesn't come down to a kick, as that could be the difference between a win and a loss.
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, and the Bears are up against the best this week. It's hard enough to go into Ford Field and beat the Lions in their building, but to do that on a short week and coming off another tough loss makes it much more challenging. Still, look for the Bears to be ready to go, as they aren't going to back down from anyone. Like the Packers and the Vikings, this is a divisional game, and most teams get up for divisional games as opposed to a regular game against an opponent, which you may only see once every four years. Look for the Bears to be able to put up some points, but this is the Lions, and that offense will be too much as the Bears fall to Detroit 37-21.Let Caleb cook
How to contain the Lions offense?
No more blocked kicks
Prediction: Lions win 37-21
