Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions – Week 12 Game Preview: Overview, Keys to Game, Insights
It has been a tumultuous week at Bears (3-7) headquarters in Lake Forest. Rumors continue to swirl about a possible coaching change with Matt Nagy decidedly on the hot seat. The Thanksgiving day tilt in Detroit against the Lions (0-9-1) hardly even seems like it’s worth talking about.
That said, the game is going to be played so it’s time to preview it. The Lions have yet to win a game in 2021, although, they do now have a tie. Detroit has a bottom five defense and a bottom five offense, they do nothing well. Not to mention, starting quarterback Jared Goff is hurt and may not play on Thursday.
The Bears are also ravaged by injuries and will have backup quarterback Andy Dalton starting in place of injured Justin Fields on Thursday. This contest is truly a case of an affair that somebody has to win or possibly tie if recent trends continue.
Will Chicago rally around their embattled coach? Or will off-the-field distractions lead to an embarrassing sixth-consecutive loss to the hapless Lions? Tune in Thursday morning to find out.
Where to Watch/Listen
- Thursday, November 25 at 11:30am CT on FOX, WBBM Radio (English), and WRTO Radio (Spanish)
Keys to Victory
Here are my keys to Thursday’s game. If these things happen, the Bears should have a shot to win.
- Contain Swift out of the backfield. D’Andre Swift has had two consecutive 100 yard rushing games as he is breaking out in an otherwise lost season. Focus on the Georgia running back and you will likely shut down Detroit.
- Pressure the quarterback no matter who he is. The Bears have to keep the pass rush on the Lions quarterback be it Goff or backup Tim Boyle. Robert Quinn, who had a huge game on Sunday, could be a big factor here.
- Win on special teams. This might be the kind of game that comes down to a big return or perhaps a missed field goal or extra point. Maybe the Bears and Jakeem Grant could take advantage of that.
Don’t Tell Me the Odds
For those actually willing to bet on this sicko football game, Vegas has the Bears favored by three points on the road. The over/under is set at 41.5 which is about as low as they can go.
My Prediction
This is going to be an ugly game, neither team is good and both have tons of injuries. Expect a very low scoring game that the Bears will win mainly because they have the better backup quarterback. As for the final, I will say 13-7, here’s hoping your Thanksgiving is better than this garbage game will be.
Official Bears Preview
Here are Bears analysts Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer with their preview of the Bears’ upcoming Week 12 matchup.
