Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions Matchup Preview (11/25/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions Matchup Preview (11/25/21)

Week 12 opens on Thanksgiving with the Chicago Bears traveling to the Detroit Lions.  This will be the third Thanksgiving matchup between the teams in the last four seasons.  In 2019 the Bears defeated the Lions, 24-20.  The Bears are coming off a heartbreaking 16-13 loss to the Ravens.  Chicago is now 3-7, losing their last five games in a row.  In week 11 Detroit lost on the road to Cleveland 13-10, to push their record to 0-9-1.  Dan Campbell continues to search for his first victory as the Lions head coach. 

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions Betting Odds

Chicago is a 3.5-point road favorite.  Detroit is 6-4 against the spread; 0-4 at home this season.  The Bears are scoring 14 points per game on the road.  At home, Detroit is averaging 16.8 points per game.  The Lions have scored fewer than 20 points in nine straight games, their longest streak since 1988.  The Bears have three takeaways in their seven losses and seven takeaways in their three wins in 2021.  Detroit is on a four-game losing streak on Thanksgiving after winning four in a row from 2013-16.  

My Prediction: Bears 21-13, Bears cover and under 41.5 points.

TV Schedule

Date: November 25th, 2021
Time: 1:30 PM ET
Location: Ford Field – Detroit, MI
TV Coverage: FOX

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions Live Stream

Where can you watch Bears vs. Lions online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Bears vs. Lions Free Online Now.

Chicago Bears Analysis

This season the Bears are 31^st in the league in total offense averaging 287.9 yards per game.  They’re scoring 16.3 points per game, which ranks them at the bottom of the NFL.  Chicago’s passing attack is averaging 155.8 yards per game which is last in the league.  

In the third quarter against the Ravens Justin Fields left the game with a rib injury and did not return.  Before the injury the Bears rookie was 4-11 for 79 yards and sacked twice.  The former Ohio State Buckeye has thrown for 1,361 yards while rushing for 311 yards and accounting for six touchdowns in 2021.  Andy Dalton entered the game after Fields injury and led the team to a touchdown on his first drive.  He connected with the little used Jimmy Graham for 23 yards then connected with Darnell Mooney on a 60-yard touchdown.  On fourth and 11, Dalton made a huge 49-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Goodwin with 1:41 to go in the fourth quarter to give the Bears the lead, but the defense couldn’t do their job and gave up the lead for good.  The former Cincinnati starter and backup for Dallas threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns in his relief appearance against the Ravens.  With Thanksgiving a few days away, will Fields be at quarterback for the Bears against the Lions?

Darnell Mooney is Chicago’s leading receiver with 41 catches for 571 yards and three touchdowns.  Against the Ravens, he had five receptions for 121 yards and three touchdowns, but he did have two critical drops at the end of the first half, each would have extended the Bears final possession.  Per NFL.com, Darnell Mooney with 113 catches joined Alshon Jeffery as the only wide receivers in Chicago’s history with at least 100 receptions in their first two seasons.

Chicago’s ground attack is averaging 132.1 yards per game.  After being out for four games, David Montgomery came back in week 10 against the Steelers, in his second game back he rushed for 58 yards on 14 carries against the Baltimore Ravens.  On the season, he’s rushed for 430 yards on 96 carries with three touchdowns: averaging 4.5 yards per carry.  

Chicago is allowing 343.9 yards of total offense and 24 points per game this season.

Injuries have had a huge impact on the Bears defense.  Last week it was announced star linebacker Khalil Mack will be out for the season due to foot surgery.  Safety Eddie Jackson missed his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks also missed the contest against Baltimore.  The pass rush did step up in the game against the Ravens, sacking quarterback Tyler Huntley six times.  

Chicago Bears Depth Chart

QB: Justin Fields
RB1: David Montgomery
RB2: Damien Williams
WR1: Darnell Mooney
WR2: Allen Robinson II
WR3: Marquise Goodwin
TE1: Cole Kmet
TE2: Jimmy Graham

Detroit Lions Analysis

In 2021, the Lions are 27^th in the league in total offense averaging 312 yards per game.  They’re scoring 16 points per game, ranking them 30^th in the NFL.  Detroit’s passing attack is averaging 197.8 yards per game which is 30^th in the league.  

Tim Boyle made his first career start in the Lions loss to the Browns.  Boyle was 15-23 for 77 yards with two interceptions and a 34.1 quarterback rating.  Jared Goff suffered an oblique injury in week 10 that forced him out of the lineup against the Browns.  In his first season as a Lion, the former number one pick in the 2016 draft has thrown for 2,109 yards, eight touchdowns, six interceptions with a 66.1 completion percentage in nine games this season.  He’s also been sacked 26 times, losing a league leading 219 yards in the process.  Based on the short week, I would expect Goff to be out against the Bears.  Will Boyle start after his disastrous game against the Browns, or could David Blough make his second Thanksgiving start for the Lions? 

The offensive line has allowed 27 sacks this season.  Rookie Penei Sewell, the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft, has played in 174 pass-blocking snaps, with five pressures and no sacks allowed in his last five games.

The Detroit running attack is averaging 114.2 yards per game. D’Andre Swift carried the load for the Lions against the Browns, rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown. The former Georgia Bulldog is one of two Detroit players with at least 100 rushing yards in a game since 2014. Swift is the Lions leading rusher this season with 555 yards on 137 carries and four scores this season: averaging 4.1 rushing yards per attempt.  Jamaal Williams who’s started eight games in 2021, missed week 10 due to a thigh injury was back in the lineup against Cleveland. This season he has 78 carries for 323 yards and two touchdowns: averaging 4.1 yards a carry.

Detroit’s tight end T.J. Hockenson leads the team in receiving with 54 receptions for 499 yards; he also has two touchdowns on the season.  He’s a player that will be mentioned in the same category as Travis Kelce and George Kittle in the future.  No matter who is at quarterback for the Lions the former first rounder from Iowa will be a main target in the passing game.

The Lions’ defense is allowing 376.7 yards per game which is 27^th in the league this season.  Starting 10 games this season, linebacker Alex Anzalone leads the team with 64 combined tackles (41 solo and 23 assists).  Linebacker Charles Harris is leading the team in sacks with four.  He also has 20 solo tackles, four tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits.   

Detroit Lions Depth Chart

QB: Jared Goff
RB1: D’Andre Swift
RB2: Jamaal Williams
WR1: Amon-Ra St. Brown
WR2: Kalif Raymond
WR3: Khadarel Hodge
TE1: T.J. Hockenson
TE2: Brock Wright

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions Daily Fantasy Picks

Khalil Herbert ran for 344 yards on 78 carries with a touchdown as he took over the running back spot while Montgomery was out.  Against Baltimore he inexplicably had only one carry. Chicago needs to make sure Herbert stays incorporated in the offense.  He has shown he’s a player who’s difficult to tackle in the open field.  I’d have him on my roster if I’m in a keeper league.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is the Lions third leading receiver on the season.  He has caught 35 passes for 329 yards: averaging 32.9 yards per game.  The rookie from USC is averaging 9.4 yards a reception.  If you need an extra receiver this week, Amon-Ra St. Brown could that player.