The Chicago Bears put forth another stinker in prime time, falling to the Green Bay Packers by a score of 41-25 on Sunday Night Football. And the game was never as close as the final score indicated.
Next up are the Detroit Lions, who just fired general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia after a similarly embarrassing NFL Week 12 loss.
If the Bears continue on their current path, Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy could be next. Considering the Bears started the season 5-1, that seems unfathomable. But that’s how ugly the last five games have been.
Still, the Lions are 4-7, and Nagy is 5-0 against them as the Bears head coach. This game is one that Chicago should win, and the odds reflect that.
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Lions @ Bears Week 13 odds
Here are the odds on the Bears vs. Lions as of now:
Mitchell Trubisky may have looked better under center than Nick Foles has in recent weeks, but that’s not saying much.
Most of the Bears’ offense came in garbage time; the score was 41-10 at one point. Trubisky flashed some nice plays but often followed those up with inexcusable decisions.
The offensive line blocked the run better than it has all year, as David Montgomery averaged 9.4 yards per carry. But the tackles are a problem, and Trubisky felt constant pressure from the edges.
With all of that said, the Lions are horrendous on defense, and this Bears regime has had success against them in the past.
Detroit ranks 29th in total defense and 31st in scoring defense.
Will Matt Patricia’s firing actually help on that side of the ball? There’s an argument to be made that it can’t hurt.
If nothing else, it should boost the Lions’ spirits. Current and former players have been openly celebrating Patricia’s departure on social media.
The Lions, famously, loved to employ man-to-man coverages against the Bears under Patricia. Trubisky, who struggles mightily to read zone defenses, has picked them apart throughout his career.
In his last four games against Detroit, Trubisky has 12 touchdown passes to one interception.
A simple change in scheme, however, could confound Trubisky and the Bears.
Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is the interim head coach for Detroit, but Patricia was more involved on the defensive side. We’ll see if the strategy changes at all with the move.
Chicago defense crumbling?
While the Bears’ offense certainly wasn’t good against the Packers, the defense was even worse.
Chicago was missing Akiem Hicks, and after seeing the product without him, it’s fair to argue that he’s the most valuable player on the defense.
Green Bay waltzed to 41 points, with Aaron Rodgers posting a 132.3 passer rating. There was no pass rush for the Bears, and the Packers also gashed them on the ground to the tune of 182 rushing yards.
Hicks was questionable going into Week 12, so there’s a reasonable chance he’s good to go for the Lions game. The Bears must hope that’s the case.
Detroit’s offense has regressed in 2020, as it’s 22nd in total yards and scoring. Still, Matthew Stafford is capable of doing damage, and star wideout Kenny Golladay has been banged up for most of the season.
Golladay, like Hicks, was ruled out shortly before the Lions’ last game. Those are two big pieces to monitor when handicapping this one.
The Bears now rank 14th in total defense and eighth in scoring defense. Without Hicks, the unit is mediocre at best.
At first glance, this matchup doesn’t appear to be all that interesting. But there’s plenty at stake.
If the Bears lose to the Lions as home favorites, it’s going to be even harder for Pace and Nagy to keep their respective jobs.
On the Lions’ end, we’ll be able to see how they perform sans Patricia, whose approval ratings in and out of the locker room were abysmal.
The Bears and Lions will kick off at Noon CST on Fox on Sunday.
