The Chicago Bears are approaching the final game of the regular season with complete clarity about their intentions.
Head coach Ben Johnson has already confirmed that the team will not be resting starters. The logic is simple: Chicago still has a legitimate opportunity to lock up the No. 2 playoff seed, which would likely secure multiple postseason games at home.
That kind of advantage outweighs the injury risk in their minds. There’s also an emotional edge involved, as the Bears have not forgotten the embarrassing 52–21 loss they suffered at the hands of Detroit earlier in the year.
That said, both teams look very different now than they did in September. Detroit’s early-season momentum has faded noticeably. Their offense has struggled to establish any consistency on the ground, while injuries have once again taken a toll on the defensive unit.
Those issues were highlighted in the Lions’ most recent injury report. Pro Bowl right tackle Penei Sewell will miss the game with an ankle injury. Linebacker Alex Anzalone is sidelined due to a concussion, and defensive tackle Alim McNeill is unavailable with an abdominal issue.
Combined, those absences remove Detroit’s top run blocker and two of their most impactful run defenders.
Chicago appears well positioned to exploit those weaknesses.
The Lions’ rushing attack has been ineffective lately, failing to reach 70 yards in each of their last three outings—even with Sewell in the lineup.
That’s significant, considering he is widely regarded as the league’s best run-blocking tackle. Much of Detroit’s success on the ground has come behind him on the right side, an option that no longer exists.
On the other side of the ball, Detroit’s defense has been gashed for 150 or more rushing yards in three straight games, despite having Anzalone and McNeill available during that stretch. Meanwhile, the Bears boast the third-ranked rushing offense in the NFL.
Motivation also heavily favors Chicago.
Detroit’s playoff hopes were effectively extinguished last week after their loss to Minnesota, leaving little at stake beyond pride. The conditions won’t help either, as the game will be played outdoors in cold weather.
The Bears, playing at home with playoff positioning on the line, should be energized by both the crowd and the opportunity to dominate a division rival.
While anything can happen on any given Sunday, the circumstances surrounding this matchup strongly suggest that Detroit faces an uphill battle heading into this weekend.
