The Detroit Lions, despite sitting atop the NFC standings with a 12-2 record, face a tough challenge ahead in their Sunday matchup with the Chicago Bears. The Lions have struggled in recent years at Soldier Field, losing four of their last six road games to the Bears. Adding to their difficulties, Detroit is dealing with significant injuries, including season-ending knee injuries to running back David Montgomery (sprained MCL) and defensive tackle Alim McNeill (torn ACL). Cornerback Carlton Davis III is also sidelined indefinitely due to a fractured jaw. Montgomery, still on the injury report, is seeking a third opinion on his knee and hasn’t yet been placed on injured reserve.
Despite these setbacks, Lions head coach Dan Campbell remains optimistic, emphasizing that no one will offer them any sympathy, and the team’s goals remain intact. “Nobody’s gonna give us a pass or give us an asterisk next to (our) record,” Campbell remarked. “What it means is that some guys are gonna have an unbelievable opportunity.” Although Detroit’s 11-game winning streak ended with a 48-42 loss to Buffalo, the Lions still have a clear path to securing the NFC’s top seed and home-field advantage in the playoffs, provided they win their final games against the Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings.
On the other hand, the Chicago Bears (4-10) have been in a prolonged slump, losing eight consecutive games, including a 23-20 loss to Detroit on Thanksgiving Day that led to the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus. Under interim coach Thomas Brown, the Bears have continued to struggle, falling to both San Francisco (38-13) and Minnesota (30-12) in recent weeks. Chicago has yet to score in the first half of its past three games, and their overall struggles show no signs of improvement.
The Bears are aware of their dwindling chances to turn things around, with cornerback Jaylon Johnson expressing frustration, noting, “Of course, players got the responsibility to make the plays, and I know nobody’s purposely not trying to make plays.” Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who is set to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, remains focused on his development despite the team’s poor performance. Chicago has had major issues on third downs, converting only 1-of-12 attempts in their loss to Minnesota, and they have allowed the most sacks in the NFL with 58. Protecting Williams will be a concern, even though the Lions are dealing with some injuries on their defensive line.
As for the Lions, they have won four of their last five matchups with the Bears, with three of those contests being decided by five points or fewer. Detroit leads the NFL in scoring, averaging 32.8 points per game. Jared Goff, who threw five touchdown passes in the loss to Buffalo, continues to play at a high level, and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has been exceptional, catching 14 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown. However, the Lions are also facing injury concerns, with safety Brian Branch (calf) and left guard Graham Glasgow (knee) both absent from practice on Wednesday.
