As the turkey roasts and families gather around the table to celebrate Thanksgiving, one tradition remains a constant in the NFL: the Detroit Lions' annual Thanksgiving Day game. This year, they face off against a familiar foe—the Chicago Bears— in what promises to be a battle of NFC North rivals. With both teams eager to continue the season on a high note and continue their playoff hopes, this matchup holds more than just the promise of festive football; it's a chance for either team to prove themselves in the division. The Lions, known for their dynamic offense, and the Bears, whose tough defense has kept them competitive all season, will collide in what could be a crucial moment in their respective seasons. Fans in Detroit and across the nation will be watching closely as these two storied franchises clash on one of the NFL's biggest stages.
On one side, you have veteran Jared Goff; on the other, rookie Caleb Williams. Goff has repeatedly demonstrated that the stats don't matter to him; the W does. Meanwhile, Caleb Williams, who has steadily improved over the last few games under a very grey coaching staff, has proven he can deliver in games even with a historically bad Bears offense. But now he goes up against one of the best defenses in the league in the Lions, so this will be an actual test for the young rookie.
Game Information
Time: 12:30pm EST
Where: Soldier Field
Broadcasters: FOX
Lions injury report: Khalif Raymond WR (DOUBTFUL), Taylor Decker, G (QUESTIONABLE), David Montgomery RB (QUESTIONABLE), Amon Ra St. Brown WR (QUESTIONABLE)
Bears injury report: Elijah Hicks S (QUESTIONABLE), Ryan Bates OG, (QUESTIONABLE)
Betting Odds
Spread: Lions (-10.5)
Moneyline: Detroit (-595), Chicago (+432)
Over/under: 48.5
Detroit Lions
Offense
The Lions offense is coming off a victory in the run game against the Indianapolis Colts. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery contributed heavily to the Lion's success in the win against the Colts, being the only two players that scored touchdowns in the game. It's another display of how the Lions don't need to move the ball one way over the other on offense. They have it all, making it increasingly difficult for any opposing defense to be able to stop them from scoring, whether on the ground or through the air. Jared Goff did put up some decent numbers through the air, 269 yards, but no passing touchdowns. Again, it's not needed when it's not required. Once this Lions team clicks, it's a tough matchup to overcome.
Defense
The Lions' defense excelled last week against the Colts, not giving up a single touchdown. The defense made Colts QB Anthony Richardson look confused and pressure from the Lions defensive front made him overthrow his wide receivers many times. This defense has been a lockdown unit, and the coaching staff has done well with depth on the roster, especially with any new injuries. This Lions' defense is still one of the best in the NFL as we go down the stretch in the regular season.
Chicago Bears
Offense
Let me start with this: I thought Caleb Williams would bust in the NFL. He has struggled but has not been all the cause of the Bears' struggles. Historically, the Bears have always been a defensive-led team. But defense can't always win games. The coaching staff for the Bears offense has been underwhelming and underperforming, to say the least. The Bears offense currently ranks 30th in passing offense and 27th in rushing, so it's time to start looking at other coaching options in the offseason, especially if you have a QB who is almost carrying the offense by himself. Find staff that will fit the schemes Williams is more used to playing with, and the Bears offense will improve and finally win more games and, hopefully, the dreaded Packers.
Defense
The Bear's defense has not lived up to its potential this season. While they do rank 9th in passing defense, only letting up an average 197.4 yards through the air, they rank 23rd in rushing defense, letting up an average 130.3 yards per game. Not good against a Lions team that thrives on both. If I were a Bears fan, this has just been an annoying season defensively. I won't mention the Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Hail Mary game-ender as an example. The defense has been unable to hold the line in clutch moments and save the game. They are facing a team that is a juggernaut and will need to play like the Bears of old to win this game on defense possibly.
My Verdict
Lions win this game, but not without its struggles. I would recommend resting anyone that is labeled DNP all week on the injury report. No need to risk any injuries, now that we are heading down the stretch in the season, especially against an inferior level team. While this is an NFC North divisional game, it isn't a very important game for the Lions team to play any starters that are not at 100%.
Final Score: 28-10 Lions
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