Week 18 Staff Predictions – Lions at Bears

Mercifully, we are at the end of a very trying season for the Detroit Lions and their fans. What started out with such promise quickly delved into chaos and, frankly, an absolute shit-show from an injury perspective that tanked any chance they had of making a run. The Lions will be beat up and missing very important players in Penei Sewell, Alim McNeil, Alex Anzalone and Thomas Harper, so this game ought to be interesting.

The Pick-em will come down to the tiebreaker, as only Chris chose the Lions this week, as Dan, Brent and Mike all went with the Bears. However, because Chris is two-games behind Brent and Dan and Tied with Mike, he will either be alone in 3rd place or come in dead last. I salute him for picking the Lions despite hbeing down about 10 pro-bowl players today 😊

Mike

Week 18 has the Lions visiting the Bears at Soldier Field. We all know that this game means nothing for the Lions other than perhaps a move up or down in the Draft order and a potentially over or under a .500 record. The Bears have a few more reasons to play and it is (believe it or not) all related to Playoff positioning.

The Chicago Bears, having clinched the NFC North, are playing for the No 2 or No 3 seed in the NFC playoffs this weekend (Week 18), hosting the winner of the division in the Wild Card round against either the Packers, Rams, or 49ers; a win against the Lions or an Eagles loss secures the No 2 seed and a home game vs. the No 7 seed Packers, while a loss combined with an Eagles win drops them to No 3, facing a tougher opponent from the NFC West.

There is no need to deep dive this game. It is a getaway game for the Lions who hope to come out of this game with no major injuries to any of the core players. It would behoove the Lions to sit those players, but Dan Campbell and the Lions are not built that way. If the game gets out of hand I could see some mass substitutions, otherwise it will be business as usual.

The Lions are 3.5-point dogs on Fan Dual. Can the Lions win? Yes. Will they win? No

Bears 24, Lions 17

Brent

The Lions enter week 18 with a hurt pride and coming off back-to-back-to-back losses to the Rams, Steelers, and the Vikings for the first time since Dan Campbell’s first season in Detroit. These losses sting given how the Lions were coming off of a 15-2 season and expectations were high.

The Lions will be down some key starters and enter the game as 3.5-point underdogs. The Lions inability to run the football will be a huge element in this game on Sunday from Soldier Field. The Lions also are starting to turn the ball over regularly which is how the Bears have won as many games as they have this season to win the division. Count me in as pessimistic about the Lions ability to rebound despite wanting to win. Bears 38 and the Lions 17.

Bears 38, Lions 17

Chris

The Lions aren't limping into the offseason with that Christmas disaster as their final statement. Dan Campbell won't allow it.

Back in Week 2, Detroit torched Chicago for 52 points when their offense actually hummed. The blueprint remains: pound the rock against a Bears defense surrendering 5 yards per carry, then unleash Goff on play-action. Yes, the offensive line is duct-taped together and the secondary running on fumes, but pride is a powerful motivator.

Chicago needs this for the 2-seed. Detroit just needs to remember who they are. MCDC doesn't want to hear about a win affecting their first-round draft pick.

Lions 31, Bears 27

Dan

It’s Week 18 of a lost season for the Lions going against a team in the Bears that has a point to prove (and playoff seeding to worry about) and a coach with an axe to grind? Yeah, not liking the Lions odds here.

On paper, the Bears are STILL a complete smoke and mirrors operation; their defense is living off turnovers and only middle of the pack in most key categories. Their Offense is also limping by with a run game carrying it, as Caleb Williams is DEAD LAST in the NFL in completion percentage at 58%. Toss in a last place schedule and the turnover margin, and the Bears are likely to get smoked in the playoffs and fall back to the NFC North cellar next year as they are on a Super Bowl trip.

The Lions will be battling without starters from the middle of their defense (DT, LB and three top Safeties), their starting all-pro RT and with the bulk of the rest of their starting OL hurting and questionable. Pray for Jared Goff, Jamhyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.

Bottom Line, as a Lions fan that knows this year was an anomaly, I would like to see them get in position to acquire the best draft pick possible while keeping the core of the team safe from long-term injuries that could impact player availability into next year. Therefore, I anticipate that we will see the Bears go up quickly (due to the missing players on both sides of the ball) and a lot of guys that are not expected back next year to get the bulk of the playing time.

Bears 34, Lions 17