The Chicago Bears are leaving no room for doubt about how they plan to handle the final game of the regular season.
Head coach Ben Johnson has made it clear that his starters will be on the field. The decision isn’t complicated: Chicago still has a legitimate path to earning the No. 2 playoff seed, which would likely secure multiple home games in the postseason.
That kind of advantage outweighs the risk of injuries in their eyes. There’s also no shortage of emotional fuel, considering the Bears were embarrassed 52–21 by Detroit earlier in the season.
That said, both teams look very different now than they did back in September. Detroit’s early-season momentum has faded.
Their ground game has stalled, and defensive injuries are once again piling up. Health has become the dominant storyline heading into this matchup, especially after the Lions released a concerning injury report. All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell will miss the game with an ankle injury.
Linebacker Alex Anzalone is out due to a concussion, and defensive tackle Alim McNeill is sidelined with an abdominal issue. Those absences strip Detroit of its top run blocker on offense and two of its most effective run defenders on defense.
That combination plays directly into Chicago’s strengths.
The Lions’ rushing attack has been ineffective lately, failing to reach even 70 rushing yards in each of their last three contests—and that was with Sewell in the lineup. He is widely regarded as the league’s best run-blocking tackle, and Detroit’s most productive runs consistently came behind him on the right side. Without him, that edge disappears.
On the other side of the ball, Detroit’s defense has been gashed on the ground, surrendering at least 150 rushing yards in three straight games, despite having Anzalone and McNeill available. Meanwhile, the Bears boast the third-ranked rushing offense in the NFL.
Motivation also heavily favors Chicago.
Detroit’s playoff hopes were essentially dashed last week by Minnesota, leaving them with little more than pride at stake. The game will be played outdoors in cold conditions, at Soldier Field, in front of an energized home crowd.
The Bears have every reason to push the pace and make a statement, not just secure a win. While anything can happen on any given Sunday, the circumstances suggest Detroit faces an uphill battle with multiple factors stacked against them heading into this matchup.
