St. Brown and Detroit Lions to Host Fields and Bears in High-Profile Week 17 Matchup

Two of the top offensive performers in the NFL will go head to head on Sunday, January 1, 2023, when Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Detroit Lions host Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears. The Lions come into the game with a 7-8 record, while the Bears sit at 3-12.

Lions’ Overview

In their last game, the Lions fell to the Carolina Panthers 37-23. Jared Goff completed 59.5% of his passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. D’Andre Swift carried the ball four times for 12 yards and had one reception for 13 yards. D.J. Chark had a standout game with four receptions for 108 yards, averaging 27.0 yards per catch.

The Detroit Lions have made a strong turnaround after a rocky start to the season, which included a 29-0 loss to the Patriots and a 1-6 record. Since then, the Lions have gone 6-2 and defeated playoff contenders such as the Giants, Jaguars, Vikings, and Jets. The team’s success has likely saved head coach Dan Campbell from being fired, and quarterback Jared Goff has been playing at a Pro Bowl level. The Lions’ offense has also become one of the best in the NFL, and the defense, led by rookie Aidan Hutchinson, has shown promise.

However, the Lions’ run defense struggled in their last game against the Panthers, allowing 320 rushing yards. This loss has set back the team’s playoff hopes, but they are not entirely out of the running yet. If the Lions win their remaining two games and the Commanders and Seahawks both lose one game, they will make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Chicago Bears’ Overview

The Bears were defeated by the Buffalo Bills 35-13 in their last outing. Fields went 15-for-23 with 119 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. David Montgomery had 16 carries for 62 yards and four receptions for 22 yards. Velus Jones Jr. had two catches for 52 yards on four targets.

The Chicago Bears have a bright future, with quarterback Justin Fields showing potential as a rising star in the NFL. The Bears’ decision to draft him in 2021 looks smart. In addition, the team’s poor record this season means they will have a high draft pick, potentially as high as first overall, in the upcoming offseason.

For the Bears to succeed, they need to build their team around Fields and his unique skills, including his mobility. He is only the third quarterback in history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season, and he is approaching Lamar Jackson’s record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season. To support Fields, the Bears need wide receivers who excel at improvisation and creating space and offensive linemen who can keep up with Fields when he moves around the pocket. The Bears’ defense also needs to improve, particularly on third downs, and get the ball back to Fields more often.

Bears at Lions Prediction

Line: Lions (-6), total points 52

In this matchup, it is expected that Justin Fields will have a big game on the ground against the Detroit Lions. He ran for 147 yards in the teams’ first meeting this season. The Lions may struggle to defend the Bears’ offense, as they had trouble with the Panthers’ defense in their last game. However, the Bears’ defense is weaker, ranking 31st in scoring defense, so the Lions should have success on offense. The game is likely high-scoring for both teams, with the Lions coming out on top 27-23. This score puts the game in the UNDER zone. The Lions have gone OVER in six of their last nine games, while the Bears have gone OVER in eight of their last nine games.

Overall, this matchup promises to be exciting, with two talented offenses facing off against each other.

Detroit Lions vs. Bears Game Info

• Game Day: Sunday, January 1, 2023
• Game Time: 1:00 PM ET
• Location: Detroit, Michigan
• Stadium: Ford Field
• TV Channel: FOX
• Live Stream: FuboTV
• Live Radio: SiriusXM

Detroit Lions vs. Bears Betting Info

• Spread Favorite: Lions (-6)
• Moneyline: Lions (-268), Bears (+216)
• Total: 52 points