Bears vs Lions Thanksgiving Odds & The Turkey Day Free Play

Update: Happy Thanksgiving! To celebrate Turkey Day, we’re offering you a no risk, all reward special offer on the Bears Lions Thanksgiving Day game.

How does it work? It’s easy, place a bet on the Bears vs. Lions Thanksgiving Day game. If you lose, we’ll refund your bet. If you win, well, you win. It’s No Risk, All Gravy this Turkey Day. Now let’s dig into the Bears Lions match up.

One of the biggest rivalries in the NFL, the Chicago Bears versus the Detroit Lions, resumes on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22 with the home team Lions looking to make amends for a tough 22-34 loss to Chicago in Week 10.

Will Detroit turn the tables on the NFC North Division leading Bears? Or, will Chicago manage to make it a 2-game sweep versus traditional Thanksgiving Day team Detroit?

We’ll be previewing the Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Bears and Lions, but before doing that, let’s get some insight into one of the most sacred of NFL Football traditions, the Detroit Lions battling on the gridiron on Thanksgiving.

Bears vs Lions 2018 Thanksgiving Odds

When: Thursday, Nov. 22 at 12:30 pm ET Where: Ford Field, Detroit, MI TV: CBS
Bears vs Lions on Thanksgiving Day

The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1945. Come this Nov. 22, the Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day streak of playing games will go to 73 years. Sounds almost improbable that a team would play on Thanksgiving for 73 straight years, but that’s what Detroit has done.

Since 1945, the Lions have battled the rival Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day 12 times. The Lions have gone 5-7 straight up in those 12 battles against the Bears. Overall, the Lions are 36-39-2 on Thanksgiving.

Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions Rivalry

Chicago Bears Lead 97-74-5

Detroit Lions: 3-1 in last 4 games

The Bears dominated the Lions 34-22 in the game at Soldier Field in Week 10. Chicago took a 26-7 lead into halftime. Detroit tried to muster a rally, but they fell short.

Although the score was terrible, Detroit could bounce back with a much better effort on Thanksgiving Day. The Lions feel Thanksgiving is their time. Can Detroit win the revenge game? Check out the key matchups for Lions versus Bears on November 22, 2018.

Bears at Lions Thanksgiving Day 2018 – Key Matchups

Lions QB Matthew Stafford vs Bears Pass Rush

The Bears dominated the Lions’ offensive line in the first game between these rivals. Chicago sacked Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford 6 times for 45 lost yards. Stafford also threw 2 interceptions and only completed 25-of-42.

Detroit must obviously make a adjustments to protect Stafford in Game 2. That could include chip blocking outside linebacker Khalil Mack, who had 2 sacks in Week 10, or putting Stafford more in the shotgun and having him get the ball out of his hands faster.

Bears QB Mitch Trubisky vs Lions Secondary

Lions’ cornerback Darius Slay missed the game due to a knee injury. Without Slay, the Lions had no shot at keeping quarterback Mitch Trubisky from repeatedly burning their secondary. Trubisky threw for 255 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Even with a healthy Slay, the Lions must find a way to put more pressure on Trubisky. They only sacked him once for 7 yards lost. That won’t cut it against the second-year quarterback. If Detroit doesn’t pressure Trubisky, he should post similar numbers on November 22.

Bears HC Matt Nagy vs Lions HC Matt Patricia

This should be the key matchup on the Thanksgiving Day battle between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Chicago brought in Matt Nagy to get more out of one of the worst offenses in the NFL. He’s done that and more this season. The Bears average over 29 points and close to 360 yards per.

The Lions brought in Matt Patricia to build a defense that could stop the better offenses in the NFC. So far, that hasn’t happened. What Patricia has done is create a balanced team that, although not capable of winning a lot of games straight up, often covers the spread.

In the second game, Patricia might have a slight advantage. He’s seen how Nagy hopes to exploit Detroit’s defense. If Slay comes back and plays, Patricia could put together a defensive strategy that challenges Nagy.

Why are the Chicago Bears are a good bet?

The obvious reason’s because the Bears have already dominated the Detroit Lions. In the massive victory in Week 10, Chicago took a 26-0 lead and then coasted to a 12-point victory. Chicago looks like one of the best teams in the NFC.

There’s no reason to believe they won’t play like it in less than 10 days when they again battle the Lions. Chicago’s pass rush should again disrupt Matthew Stafford’s timing while Mitch Trubisky should again find open receivers all over the field.

Team Statistics

Offense:

Average Score For: 29.4
Total Yards: 358.6
Pass Yards: 230.2
Rush Yards: 128.4

Defense:

Average Score Against: 19.1
Total Yards: 321.4
Pass Yards: 236.4
Rush Yards: 85

Why Detroit Lions are a good bet?

The Bears overwhelmed the Detroit Lions in the first game. That’s not likely to happen in the second game because Detroit coach Matt Patricia’s a master at making adjustments. Even at halftime in the 12-point loss, Patricia made adjustments.

The Lions won the second half in the loss to Chicago 15-8. Unfortunately, it was much too little too late for Detroit to challenge. At home on Thanksgiving Day, the Lions should do enough to turn the tables on their NFC North rivals.

Team Statistics

Offense:

Average Score For: 22.5
Total Yards: 352.9
Pass Yards: 248.6
Rush Yards: 104.2

Defense:

Average Score Against: 26.2
Total Yards: 357.1
Pass Yards: 214.6
Rush Yards: 142.5

Bears vs Lions 2018 Thanksgiving Day Game Final Analysis

Before the Week 10 loss, the Detroit Lions had beaten the Chicago Bears in 9-of-10, including winning the last 3. The Bears came into that Week 10 battle healthier and it showed. Detroit couldn’t stop the Bears’ pass rush even though they knew from the beginning what Chicago’s strategy was going to entail.

The real key for the Bears’ victory was Matt Nagy’s play-calling. He exploited deficiencies in a Lions’ secondary missing star cornerback Darius Slay.

Slay should be ready to go on Thanksgiving Day because the knee injury’s listed as day-to-day. If Slay does go, that opens up the defensive playbook for Lions’ head coach Matt Patricia. Patricia’s a master strategist who will spend hours dissecting exactly what Nagy did that allowed the Bears to run out to a 26-0 lead.

The Lions feel they own Thanksgiving. They won’t allow a rival like the Chicago Bears to ruin their family meal. Expect Detroit to come out swinging with more fire, and better strategies on both sides of the football.

Detroit should exact their revenge by beating the Chicago Bears on Nov. 22.

2018 Thanksgiving Day Pick: Detroit Lions