NFL picks: Expert predictions for Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears

The Detroit Lions are hoping a change in head coach can provide a little boost down to the team, as they prepare for the final month of football. Interim head coach Darrell Bevell has provided a little levity in press conferences, some more music at practice, and perhaps a little more pace to Detroit’s sluggish offense. But will that translate to anything on the field? We’ll see on Sunday.

It won’t be easy for Bevell and the Lions, as they are facing one of the toughest defenses in the entire league, and they haven’t notched a win against the Chicago Bears since December 2017.

But the Bears are going through troubles of their own. They’ve lost five straight after a 5-1 start and now many are questioning whether head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace will survive the season. A loss to the Lions on Sunday could certainly expedite that process, but to be fair to the Bears, most of the games they’ve lost in this five-game skid were to talented teams. The Lions are decidedly not that.

So who wins this week? Our staff is fairly split. Six are taking the Lions, while seven believe the Bears will continue their dominance over Chicago.

Kellie Rowe (6-5): Lions win
Ryan Mathews (6-5): 27-24 Lions
Kyle Yost (6-5): 24-20 Bears
Jeremy Reisman (6-5): 27-24 Bears (Read Jeremy’s preview here)
Justin Simon (6-5): 20-17 Lions (Read Justin’s preview here)
Alex Reno (6-5): Bears win
Chris Perfett (5-5-1): 9-8 Bears
Mansur Shaheen (5-6): Bears win
Mike Payton (5-6): 35-28 Lions
Jerry Mallory (5-6): Lions win
John Whiticar (4-7): 30-20 Bears win
Hamza Baccouche (4-6): 25-23 Bears (Read Hamza’s bold prediction here)
Andrew Kato (3-8): 31-17 Lions