The Chicago Bears (4-6) will face the Detroit Lions (3-7-1) for the second straight Thanksgiving with the Bears determined to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
The Bears are coming off an unimpressive victory over the New York Giants (2-9), where there’s much improvement to be desired on offense. They’ll face a Lions team depleted with injuries and that has lost seven of their last eight games.
Before the game, we caught up with managing editor Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire to get the scoop on the Bears’ Week 13 opponent.
Here are five questions with Lions Wire:
1. After starting the season 2-0-1, the Lions have lost 7 of their last 8 games. Is Matt Patricia’s seat getting warmer with each passing week?
A lot of Lions fans wish it was, but most indications are the team and ownership remain committed to the process. It does not help Patricia that he’s known for being a defensive mastermind and his Detroit defense is largely terrible. An embarrassing loss to the Bears on national television might heat things up more.
2. The Lions will likely face the Bears again without Matthew Stafford, but backup Jeff Driskel is also dealing with a hamstring injury, which means the Bears could possibly see third-string QB David Blough on Thanksgiving. Can you give us a scouting report on Blough? Also, if Driskel is good to go, how could his limited mobility affect his play?
Blough is an interesting guy. He was in Browns camp and preseason this summer and looked good for an undrafted rookie. He does not lack confidence and his ball placement is impressive. Blough is not much of a runner. He’s smaller (6-0) and needs clean passing lanes. From what I’ve seen he doesn’t have Stafford’s arm strength (almost nobody ever has) or Driskel’s either, but he not without some ability to zip in an 18-yard out pattern. Driskel’s mobility and ability to escape pressure are his greatest assets. If he’s athletically limited, the Lions might be better off starting Blough. Driskel’s running has been a huge boon; only Lamar Jackson has more rushing yards per game at QB than Driskel’s 50.3.
3. The Lions defense fared well against the Redskins minus for that final scoring drive by Washington. Detroit allowed 13 first downs and just 230 total yards. Given the struggles of the defense this season, have they shown progress in the last few weeks?
To be honest, Washington’s offense is horrifyingly bad. That probably played more of a factor in the Lions’ successful stats than anything Detroit did well. One move that has helped lately is making rookie LB Jahlani Tavai the defensive signal-caller. He’s smart enough to handle it, and taking it away from Jarrad Davis has allowed Davis to focus more on the actual plays. Tavai continues to play pretty well.
4. The Lions’ depth is being tested right now in terms of injuries. Detroit had 11 rookies playing last week against the Redskins. How much have injuries impacted the Lions this season?
It’s been brutal. Last week Matthew Stafford, Frank Ragnow, Trey Flowers, Da’Shawn Hand and Tracy Walker all missed due to injuries. That’s five of the eight best all-around players on the team. Kerryon Johnson is on I.R., so is his replacement, Tra Carson. Stafford was on pace to basically match Dan Marino’s legendary season (stats wise) when he suffered his broken back, so that’s a major blow.What’s been problematic is so many guys are hurt with short-term injuries. It’s not severe enough to go on I.R., but they’re out 2-3 weeks instead. That means no depth when other guys get dinged during a game, and that keeps happening.
5. What’s your prediction for the game?
I think a healthy Lions team would roll at home on Thanksgiving, but given the shell of a team the Lions will trot out, it will take a lot of help from the Bears themselves for Detroit to win. Bears win, 30-17.
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