The Detroit Lions are raring to go in Week 1 to avenge their two losses at the hands of the Chicago Bears last season. Will the Lions, with Matthew Stafford back, kick off their 2020 season with a win? Or will the Bears continue their mastery of Detroit? Join our 2020 NFL Survivor Pool contest and check out our preview of this game below.
In a move that many thought was a challenge to Mitchell Trubisky to get his act together, the Bears signed Super-Bowl winning quarterback Nick Foles in the offseason. But at the end of the day (or, at least for now), the Bears reportedly will start Trubisky in Week 1 against Detroit. Trubisky finished the 2019 season with 3,138 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. That’s the second year in a row that he’s had double-digit interceptions. However, Trubisky played well in the Bears’ two wins last season against the Lions. In those games, Trubisky managed 5111 passing yards and six touchdowns with only a pick thrown. Meanwhile, the Bears might now have running back David Montgomery in Week 1, as the former Iowa State Cyclones star is still dealing with a groin issue. If he can’t go, the Bears will turn to the likes of Tarik Cohen and Cordarrelle Patterson for help in the rushing attack.
The Bears, who allowed just 18.6 points per game last season, are 3-2 against the spread in their last five trips to Ford Field.
Well, yes, the Lions lost twice to Trubisky and the Bears last season, but in both games, Detroit didn’t have Matthew Stafford under center. Instead, they started Jeff Driskel and David Blough, as Stafford sat out the final eight weeks with a bad back. With Stafford now healthy and ready to go, the Lions should be able to fly higher, especially with a quality receiving corps around him. Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, and Danny Amendola are trustworthy receivers . Golladay, in particular, had 158 receiving yards and a touchdown in just four receptions in Week 13 against Chicago last year. The Lions have also upgraded their backfield by drafting D’Andre Swift, though, it remains uncertain how big of a role he’ll have in Week 1, given the fact that he recently hurt his leg in practice. Most signs are trending toward Swift ready for the season opener to help the Lions’ offense that averaged 21.3 points per game last year.
The over is 6-1 in the Lions’ last seven home games.
