Chicago (4-9) at Detroit (7-6)
When: Saturday, December 16th 2017
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Time: 4:30 ET | TV: NFL Network
Opening Odds: Detroit -6/44
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The Detroit Lions are clinging to their postseason hopes and will look to build off a win last week when they host NFC North-rival the Chicago Bears on Saturday afternoon at Ford Field. The Bears have nothing to play for, but will get a chance to play spoiler on Saturday and possible in their season finale at Minnesota. Detroit enters Week 15 at 7-6 and trails the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks by one game in the race for the final NFC wild-card spot. The Lions ended a two-game skid with a 24-21 win at Tampa Bay last week behind a gutsy effort from quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is dealing with an injury to his throwing hand. Stafford, who was questionable in the week leading up to Sunday’s game, threw for 381 yards and feels much better this week as he’s amped-up his practice activity. The Bears got to play spoiler last week, essentially knocking the Cincinnati Bengals out of the playoff discussion in the AFC with a 33-7 thumping. Detroit, who won at Chicago 27-24 on November 19th, have won eight of the last nine meetings, including four straight at home.
Rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is easily coming off his best game of the season, completing 25 of 32 passes for 271 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions last week against the Bengals. The running game is taking pressure off Trubisky lately as Jordan Howard rushed for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Bengals to go over 1,000 yards rushing on the season. The offense is still dead-last in passing (167.2), but the rushing offense ranks seventh at 124.5 yards a contest. The leading receiver is Kendall Wright and he has just 43 catches for 477 yards and one score and he was limited in practice on Wednesday, while tight end Adam Shaheen (chest) is also questionable. The defense has held the last two opponents to 22 total points and ranks 11th in overall defense (325.5) and ninth against the pass (216.6). The Bears will host winless Cleveland on Christmas Eve.
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While Trubisky gets nice contributions from his running game, Stafford only wishes he could. Help may be coming as leading rusher Ameer Abdullah could return on Saturday after sitting out the last two games with neck issues. Abdullah and Stafford will both have to deal with injuries to the men blocking for them as guard T.J. Lang (foot), center Travis Swanson (concussion) and tackle Rick Wagner (ankle) are all questionable. The defense, which ranks 28th in points allowed (25.3), has surrendered 20 or more in eight of the last nine games, including 24 to the Bears in Week 11. The Lions might have trouble stopping Howard as they rank 20th in rush defense (116.3), but an even worse 27th against the pass (247.0). Detroit will be in Cincinnati next week then close at home with Green Bay on New Year’s Eve.
The Bears have been very competitive lately despite their record and are coming off their best game of the season. Detroit has a hard time stopping anyone on defense and I expect the Bears to be able to run well against them. I can see Detroit winning this game by a field goal, so take the points.
Pick: Bears +5
- Bears are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in December.
- Bears are 7-3-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Bears are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Bears are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 road games.
- Bears are 13-38-1 ATS in their last 52 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Bears are 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Bears are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Bears are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC North.
- Bears are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win.
- Bears are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Bears are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Bears are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC.
- Lions are 3-0-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Lions are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Lions are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Lions are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.
- Lions are 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 games in December.
- Lions are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Lions are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
- Lions are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 15.
- Lions are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games on fieldturf.
- Lions are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Bears last 6 vs. NFC North.
- Under is 5-2 in Bears last 7 games overall.
- Under is 5-2 in Bears last 7 vs. NFC.
- Over is 5-2 in Bears last 7 games in Week 15.
- Over is 28-13 in Bears last 41 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 5-0 in Lions last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 4-0 in Lions last 4 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 6-1 in Lions last 7 Saturday games.
- Over is 6-1 in Lions last 7 home games.
- Over is 5-1 in Lions last 6 games overall.
- Over is 5-1 in Lions last 6 games on fieldturf.
- Over is 5-1 in Lions last 6 vs. NFC.
- Under is 8-2 in Lions last 10 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 4-1 in Lions last 5 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 8-2 in Lions last 10 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Lions last 5 vs. NFC North.
- Over is 4-1 in Lions last 5 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 12-4-2 in Lions last 18 games in Week 15.
- Under is 8-3 in Lions last 11 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 10-4 in Lions last 14 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Bears are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
- Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Detroit.
- Underdog is 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
- Road team is 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
- Bears are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 meetings in Detroit.
