The NFL season has officially kicked off, though the start wasn’t ideal for the Detroit Lions. In their opener on Sunday, September 7, the Lions suffered a 27-13 defeat to their long-time rivals, the Green Bay Packers. For Detroit fans, losses to Green Bay always seem to cut deeper than most, especially given the history between the two franchises.
With that game in the rearview, head coach Dan Campbell’s squad now shifts focus to Week 2, where they’ll host the Chicago Bears on Sunday, September 14. Chicago, under new head coach Ben Johnson, is also eager to bounce back after dropping its opener. The Lions will enjoy the benefit of Ford Field’s home crowd, but the question remains — will it be enough to push them into the win column?
Both teams are desperate to avoid a 0-2 start. The Bears are banking on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who has already shown signs of being a difference-maker. Even so, early predictions seem to favor Detroit.
Expert Picks Lean Toward Detroit
NFL.com analysts Ali Bhanpuri, Tom Blair, Brooke Cersosimo, and Dan Parr shared their Week 2 forecasts on Thursday, September 11, and they were unanimous in backing the Lions over the Bears.
Bhanpuri explained his reasoning, pointing out Detroit’s resilience in the Campbell era:
“Detroit might still be stinging from what happened at Lambeau, but Campbell has proven he can get his team back on track quickly. Since 2022, the Lions are 11-4 following a loss, which is among the best in the league. Chicago will get its wins eventually, but probably not this week.”
ESPN’s Eric Woodyard also leaned Detroit’s way in his preview, reminding fans that Campbell will do everything possible to prevent the team from starting 0-2 for the first time since his debut season in 2021. He also noted the storyline of Johnson’s return to Detroit, where his strong relationships with current players add intrigue to the matchup.
Campbell Confident Ahead of Showdown
When asked earlier in the week about facing Johnson’s Bears, Campbell kept it straightforward:
“He knows us, we know him — that’s just how it is. At the end of the day, we’re preparing for Chicago, and we’re going in expecting to win. We have to.”
With both franchises looking to prove themselves in the NFC, this early-season clash has all the makings of a statement game. The Lions believe they can deliver in front of their home fans — now it’s about showing it on the field.
