The Lions and the Bears both look like they tried to steal a lamb from David’s flock. One would have to ask people who bet on NFL if two teams can be underdogs at the same time, which would almost seem to be the case on Sunday, October 2nd at the Soldier Field. Here are the online sportsbook odds:
Lions -3 (EV) 46 (-115)
Bears +3 (-120) 46 (-105)
The Lions started off on the right paw, beating none other than the Luckiest team in the league, the Indy Colts. Unfortunately, they have stumbled twice since then, most recently to the Green Bay Packers. Detroit QB Matthew Stafford went 28 of 41 for 385 passing yards with three TDs and one interception, and wide receiver Marvin Jones had a had a career-high 205 yards on six receptions, including a 35-yard touchdown catch with 3:34 remaining that put the Lions within seven points.
However, the Packers burned the secondary with big plays to build a big lead, and Eddie Lacy ran for 103 yards on 17 carries. To make matters worse, Detroit’s defense lost safety Tavon Wilson to a neck injury in the first quarter. Thus, Wilson joins lineman Ezekiel Ansah and LB DeAndre Levy.
Following a 17-31 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, da Bears are 0-3 for the second straight season. Coincidentally, as most fans who bet on NFL would surely agree, this is their second season with head coach John Fox. Starting QB Jay Cutler was out with a sprained thumb, and backup Brian Hoyer had a tough time moving the offense – and why wouldn’t he?
Have you seen the size of some of those guys? Hoyer finished 30 of 49 for 317 yards and two scoring passes to tight end Zach Miller – though most of that took place in the fourth quarter, rendering it moot. Chicago only rushed 73 yards on 15 carries, and it didn’t help that they lost their leading rusher Jeremy Langford to an injured ankle.
Regardless of whether Cutler or Hoyer starts against the Lions, they’ll be lucky if they get the same Detroit defense that failed to put any significant pressure on Aaron Rodgers. The Lions have yielded 28.3 points and 379.0 total yards (264.3 passing and 114.7 rushing) per game. Then again, the same could be said of the Bears; a Chicago defense sans linebacker Danny Trevathan, outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, nose tackle Eddie Goldman, and other two starters wasn’t much more than a mild nuisance to Dallas QB Dak Prescott.
The Bears are yielding 27.7 points and 357.0 total yards (214.3 passing and 142.7 rushing) per game on defense. Bears fans who bet on NFL like to make fun of the Lions, but this might just be a case of people living in glass houses throwing rocks. Detroit has defeated Chicago six times in the last three seasons. The last time the Bears beat the Lions was in 2012. But let’s check back with a good old friend Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. He finally got one right predicting the loss to the Packers, followed by a prospective loss to the Bears.