Bears at Lions – Week 17 – End of the road

Da Bears come into Detroit today for the final game of the season.  And what a season it has been, for both teams.   The Bears are coming off a great overtime win over Minnesota on MNF but will be missing the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row and some are saying they’re playing for Lovie Smith’s job next season.  He’s got a lot of time on his contract and the Bears don’t like to pay off big contracts.  I’d have to say Smith is around for at least one more season.  The Lions are playing to see what draft position they get next year.  The optimal scenario is the Lions lose and the Rams win – Lions draft Ndamukong Suh (pronounced En-dom-ah-ken Soo, learn it now).

As much as I want the Lions to draft Suh, I will be rooting for them to beat the Bears today.  This would give the Lions a 3-5 home record (still 0-8 on the road).  With next seasons road schedule, they should be able to get at least one road win.  They played well at times this season but, unfortunately, at times wasn’t nearly enough.

Bears QB Jay Cutler has not played well this season.  He has a league high 26 int’s and has not played like he did in Denver.  I’m very glad the Lions did not trade for him in the offseason and drafted Stafford instead.  The Bears will be playing without CB Charles Tillman, who was placed on IR with broken ribs, and probably without DB/KR Danieal Manning, WR Devin Hester and probably without WR Johnny Knox.  Matt Forte will need to have a big game today for the bears to have any hope of winning this game for Chicago.

For the Lions, it looks like they’re going to let Daunte Culpepper start under center.  Bad move as I don’t think he gives the Lions any chance of winning this game (planned that way on purpose?).  They need to either let Stanton have another chance or throw Patrick Ramsey into the mix and see what he’s got (and a better shot at the #1 pick).  If they want a chance at winning, play Stanton, if they want a shot at the 1st pick in next years draft, play Culpepper or Ramsey.

The Lions defensive front will need to step up today and stop bears RB Matt Forte from having a big game.  There are several WR’s out for Chicago and the Bears will run Forte early and often.  Detroit will need to air the ball out and take the opportunity against a non-Tillman secondary.  CJ could have a big game if one of the Detroit QB’s can get him the ball.  It would be nice to see one of the other Lions WR actually catch a dang ball today and to see him not call for a fair catch all the time in the KR/PR game.

Injury Report

Detroit Lions

OUT
LB Larry Foote
QUESTIONABLE
CB Phillip Buchanon, S Louis Delmas
PROBABLE
DT Joe Cohen, DT Grady Jackson, QB Drew Stanton, LB Jordon Dizon, DE Dewayne White, WR Brian Witherspoon

Chicago Bears

OUT
DT Israel Idonije, CB Charles Tillman
DOUBTFUL
S Al Afalava, WR Johnny Knox, S Danieal Manning
PROBABLE
S Craig Steltz, DT Tommie Harris, LB Lance Briggs

Vegas has the odds at 3 points in favor of the Bears with the O/U at 45 points.  90% of the people have been taking Chicago.  This game could go either way, depending on who starts.  I give the bears the win if Culpepper gets the nod and a victory for Detroit if Stanton is under center.  I’d have to say 31-14 in Chicago’s favor as it sounds like Culpepper will be under center.

As usual, the best place for game time conversation and play-by-play game thread is over at SBNation’s Detroit Lions blog - Pride of Detroit.