THANKSGIVING DAY FOOTBALL 1: CHICAGO BEARS AT DETROIT LIONS

BY ADAM GREENE

It’s ironic that this game comes up first, as it will the hardest to eat and watch as the Chicago Bears travel to Ford Field to face off against the Detroit Lions to open our Thanksgiving Day festivities.

These two teams have a combined record of 3-16-1 and all three of those victories belong to the Bears. That’s not a good thing as the rumor swirling around this one is that Chicago head coach Matt Nagy will be fired after the game, regardless of the outcome. Which, I guess, gives him a jump on his Black Friday shopping.

Detroit is winless, of course, and got there own “good” news this week that there’s a chance Jared Goff could start instead of whatever guy they kidnapped at the local bus station and tossed in a jersey. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.

This is one of the oldest rivalries in the sport, with the two franchises meeting up 183 times since 1930. The Bears lead the all time series 103-75-5. Last year they split their games, but before that Chicago held a five game win streak.

CHICAGO BEARS AT DETROIT LIONS (+3, O/U: 41)

Location: Ford Field, Detroit Mich.

Broadcast: FOX

Kickoff: Nov. 25, 12:30 p.m.

CHICAGO BEARS (3-7)

As I mentioned earlier, there’s a great chance that this is Matt Nagy’s last game at the helm of the Bears, a team that’s now lost five straight games. The irony is, with the exception of two of them, Chicago was one score away from flipping those results. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t fire Nagy, just the contrary. What it does show is that this isn’t a bad job and there’s some talent here. Last Sunday they fell 16-13 to the Baltimore Ravens. Justin Fields got knocked from the game and Andy Dalton finished it out, completing 11 of 23 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll probably start again Thursday. Darnell Mooney caught five passes for 121 yards and a score. Marquise Goodwin had four catches for 104 yards and a TD. Chicago’s defense sacked Tyler Huntley, starting in place of an ill Lamar Jackson, six times, picked him off once and still lost.

DETROIT LIONS (0-9-1)

Another week brought another loss for the Lions, the NFL’s first official losing team of the season. And it took them a game longer than we all thought it would. Tom Boyle, in his first NFL start, was a sack of hot garbage throwing for just 77 yards and two interceptions in a 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns. DeAndre Swift was the only bright spot, rushing 14 times for 136 yards. The defense sacked Baker Mayfield once and picked him off twice.

THE PICK

You just can’t pick Detroit to win until they prove they can do it. If the Lions look OK one week, they follow it with a complete toppled over porta-john the very next one. If Chicago can’t get motivated and feeling good at the prospect of strapping Nagy into the ejector seat, I’m not sure what will do it. Bears 23, Lions 13

Last week

Straight up: 11-4

Against the spread: 10-5

Season

Straight up: 100-64-1

Against the spread: 84-81

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan

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