Week 15 NFL expert picks: Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears

While there doesn’t seem to be a lot of buzz surrounding the Detroit Lions and their improbable playoff chances, there does seem to be a lot of confidence in them this week. On Saturday, they host the 4-9 Chicago Bears—a team they squeaked by just four weeks ago on Soldier Field.

A win would keep Detroit’s playoff hopes afloat, and would even make their chances somewhat realistic with the right amount of help on Sunday and Monday.

And according to most national analysts, they think Detroit will do just that. Check out the expert picks for the Lions’ Week 15 game.

National analysts:

ESPN: 10 of 10 picked Lions
SB Nation: 6 of 8 picked Lions
CBS Sports: 6 of 8 picked Lions
Pro Football Focus: 9 of 9 picked Lions
Sports Illustrated: 5 of 6 picked Lions

Total: 36 of 41 picked Lions (87.8%)

Just five national experts that we tracked picked the Bears to win on Saturday. Most surprisingly, ESPN and Pro Football Focus—two sites that have been down the Lions this year—are both unanimously picking the Lions to win this week.

Turning to the local analysts, the heavy consensus is even more pronounced by the local beat.

Local analysts:

MLive: 2 of 2 picked Lions
Freep: 4 of 4 picked Lions
Detroit News: 4 of 4 picked Lions
Detroit Jock City: 7 of 8 picked Lions
Pride of Detroit: 9 of 10 picked Lions

Total: 26 of 28 picked Lions (92.9%)

All 10 beat writers picked Detroit to win. In fact, outside of myself, there was only one local writer that took the Bears this week: Mike Rizzo of Detroit Jock City. Even all four contributors at Lions Wire are taking Detroit over Chicago.

So everyone seems to believe the Lions are going to stay alive for another week, keeping playoff dreams high all over Detroit.

What do you think?