Lions vs. Bears Predictions, Picks & Odds: NFL Week 16, Sunday 12/22
During the final weeks of the NFL regular season, fans have long got accustomed to classic NFC North rivalries, and that is exactly what we have in Chicago this Sunday with the Bears hosting the Detroit Lions. It may seem like a huge mismatch to most, but we’ve still got our best Lions vs. Bears predictions for you.
Better yet, we’ve found value for you with the best bet from our Lions vs. Bears picks, which will be all the more valuable courtesy of the $150 DraftKings Sportsbook welcome offer that we have for you!
Lions vs. Bears Predictions For NFL Week 16, Sunday 12/22
If not for an extremely close loss last Sunday, this would not just be a classic NFC North rivalry, but also a clash between a 12-game winning streak and an eight-game losing streak. However, Detroit falling to the Buffalo Bills ruined that narrative, but they still have the #1 seed in the NFC on their radar.
Meanwhile, many Bears fans likely have changes on their radar, or at least in their hopes, in terms of front office changes. We’ll get more into that as we dive into Chicago specifically, but ultimately, it’s difficult to see the Bears keeping this game competitive. The Lions vs. Bears odds certainly support that statement as well.
However, we’re looking to avoid any craziness that we saw when these rivals met on Thanksgiving Day, meaning that the best bet from our Lions vs. Bears predictions is going to be focused elsewhere.
Detroit Lions: Roaring Through The Reserve
There’s been no shortage of Detroit discussions this week following an epic game with the Bills that ended in a fun 44-42 finish. While the Lions lost the game on the scoreboard, much of the talk has been their losses elsewhere. That would be in terms of losses due to injuries, as they have continued to mount.
Prior to even placing RB Montgomery on injured reserve, the Lions were already at a whopping 21 players on the list. It led head coach Dan Campbell to have one of his textbook rants on a radio interview about the next man up mentality. Whether you want to call it excuses or reasons, Campbell and company need to find a way to overcome them.
Chicago Bears: More Changes?
While Detroit seems to have found their guy with Campbell, the feeling is the exact opposite in the Windy City. They’ve already fired former head coach Matt Eberflus and even made an offensive coordinator change, but there is still a chance that more is to come.
Fans and those around the franchise fear that they may be ruining another young QB’s career with rookie QB Caleb Williams not developing as planned. That is even after surrounding him with as many weapons as possible with their offseason moves, so now, all eyes are on general manager Ryan Poles.
Lions vs. Bears Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
We’ve noted the Lions vs. Bears odds already with Detroit being clear road favorites, and you can see each of the standard markets at DraftKings Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: Detroit Lions -6.5 (-110) vs. Chicago Bears +6.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Detroit Lions (-278) vs. Chicago Bears (+225)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 48.5 (-110) vs. Under 48.5 (-110)
Lions vs. Bears Best Bet: Jahmyr Gibbs Over 18.5 Carries (-120 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Given the current lines, oddsmakers are all but begging fans to take Detroit with their Lions vs. Bears picks. That’s thanks to keeping the point spread just under the extremely key number of seven, or a touchdown.
While we do expect them to win by that margin or more, we simply see more value elsewhere. If you feel that it’s a must to stick with the standard markets, then we’d also be remiss not to share that road favorites have been excellent this season, and Detroit has an incredible point differential of +177 this season, by far the best in the NFL.
What we’re going to focus on is what should lead them to a clear win - RB Jahmyr Gibbs. He has already been a stud alongside Montgomery, but with the latter having just injured his MCL, Gibbs is set to become the true bell cow of this offense. When these teams met on Thanksgiving Day, Montgomery had 21 carries, and those will now be going to Gibbs.
He already had nine for 87 yards that day, so he’s more than ready to make the most of them. Detroit should be looking to allow him to do so, as Chicago’s run defense is far worse than their pass defense - they allow the seventh-most rushing yards per game. Similarly, Detroit should have a lead, which means running out the clock.
That is all a recipe for plenty of opportunities, which is why we’re locking in the best bet from our Lions vs. Bears predictions on Jahmyr Gibbs over 18.5 carries (-115 at DraftKings Sportsbook).
Lions vs. Bears Injury Report & Latest News
At this point, it’s virtually impossible to pick just one injury news storyline to pinpoint with a matchup involving the Lions. The list is abundant, but as mentioned, the most recent significant loss was that of Montgomery. As for Chicago, they have had WRs banged up throughout the year, so be sure to monitor that throughout the entire Fantasy Alarm NFL injury report.
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As you can see, fans in IL have their bonus guaranteed! Even if you’re in MI and the other group of states, you can just back a huge favorite (such as Detroit) and still be getting 30/1 odds! The approach is up to you, but it all starts by joining DraftKings today!
Player News
Dak Prescott said George Pickens is “more than a 50-50 catcher.”
Prescott in a Wednesday morning radio interview was effusive in his praise of Pickens, who was traded last week from the Steelers to Dallas in exchange for draft compensation. “You put the ball anywhere in his vicinity, very strong hands,” Prescott said of Pickens. “He’s more than a 50-50 catcher. ... I’m excited for him. I know that we need some help at that position.” Pickens, 24, who has 2,841 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns over three NFL seasons, is widely expected to see more single coverage in Dallas than he did as the unquestioned No. 1 wideout in Pittsburgh. Opposing coverage units won’t be able to shade safeties toward his side of the field with CeeDee Lamb threatening the middle of the field. Pickens shapes up as a volatile WR2/3 in 2025.
The Lions will play the Vikings on Christmas Day.
The Week 17 matchup between longtime NFC North rivals will be available exclusively on Netflix. Coming off a devastating Divisional Round loss to Washington last January, the Lions will be prominently featured by the league in 2025. Jared Goff and the Lions beat Minnesota twice during the 2024 regular season: A 31-29 Week 7 victory in Minnesota and a 31-9 Week 18 drubbing in Detroit. Goff combined to throw for 511 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in those games. Justin Jefferson, meanwhile, was limited to ten catches for 131 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings’ 2024 games against Detroit.
The Eagles will face the Chiefs in Week 2.
The NFL’s trickle of 2025 schedule news includes a Super Bowl rematch in Kansas City, where Patrick Mahomes and company will look for a little revenge after getting bulldozed by the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, 40-22. Philadelphia’s elite defense held Mahomes to a mere 226 yards on 32 pass attempts, with much of that production coming in fourth quarter garbage time. Jalen Hurts threw of two scores and ran in another as Saquon Barkley was held in check to the tune of 57 scoreless yards on 23 carries. If the Chiefs are to get back at the Eagles in Week 2, they’ll have to do a far better job of protecting Mahomes.
The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo believes RB Kaleb Johnson is a “schematic fit” for the Steelers offense.
Johnson, a third-round draft pick who last month was listed as a co-starter alongside Jaylen Warren on the Pittsburgh depth chart, was a hyper-productive back in Iowa’s zone-based rushing scheme, a system used frequently in Arthur Smith’s run-first offense. Only three college running backs in 2024 logged more zone rushes than Johnson. Johnson’s goals in offseason practices, according to DeFabo, “are to learn the playbook and earn the coaching staff’s trust with the hope of becoming an ‘every-down back’ sooner rather than later.” That might require Johnson to improve his pass blocking. The rookie said he’s worked on that with Warren — one of the best blocking backs in the NFL — in recent days.
The Chiefs will play the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.
The Week 13 matchup will bring Patrick Mahomes and the AFC champion Chiefs to Dallas for the day’s late afternoon game. It could be a shootout if key players on both sides are healthy. Dak Prescott heads into the season with George Pickens as a legit WR2 behind CeeDee Lamb, and Mahomes — who has talked this offseason about more explosive plays for the KC offense — will have Xavier Worthy, Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, and Hollywood Brown at his disposal. Mahomes has faced Dallas once in his NFL career, a Week 11 win in 2021 in which he threw for 260 scoreless yards. The hope for both the league and fantasy managers is that the Cowboys are still in postseason contention by the end of November.
Free agent Gabe Davis will visit the New York Giants.
Cut by the Jaguars after one season last week, Davis visited the 49ers on Monday. New York would be a reunion of sorts, as he played for Giants coach Brian Daboll in Buffalo. The G-Men already have several wideouts capable of stretching the field, but 26-year-old Davis could still be a decent role player in a strong offense. The problem, of course, is that the Giants profile as anything but, but rookie QB Jaxson Dart is comfortable throwing down the field.