These two NFC North rivals will meet for the ten thousandth time, or, more accurately, the 181st time on Sunday the 13th. The Lions come into this season looking for a healthy Matthew Stafford to help them compete for a division title while the Bears hope to win on defense and old man strength.
At the moment, we are still waiting on who will be the quarterback of the Chicago Bears. Either Nick Foles or Mitchell Trubisky will get the nod, but the fact that neither has taken the proverbial bull by the horns, isn’t a good sign.
TV Info
Date: September 13
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Broadcast map
Notable Statistical rankings (Football Outsiders)
Bears (2019): 8th vs. Pass, 13th vs. Rush
Lions (2019): 14th vs. Pass, 16th vs. Rush
DraftKings Sportsbook odds
Bears: +3, +128
Lions: -3, -155
Total: 44
Pick: Bears
I was on the Lions until Kenny Golladay’s injury. If he misses, I think the Bears defense can do enough to make this game close. Keep an eye on Golladay’s status.
Injury report
Bears
Wednesday
DNP: DE Robert Quinn (ankle)
Limited: LB Khalil Mack (knee), RB David Montgomery (groin), WR Cordarrelle Patterson (knee), T Jason Spriggs (knee), WR Javon Wims (achilles)
Full: T Germain Ifedi (triceps)
Thursday
DNP: DE Robert Quinn (ankle)
Limited: LB Khalil Mack (knee)
Full: T Germain Ifedi (triceps), RB David Montgomery (groin), WR Cordarrelle Patterson (knee), T Jason Spriggs (knee), WR Javon Wims (achilles)
Lions
Wednesday
DNP: TE Hunter Bryant (hamstring), S C.J. Moore (hamstring)
Limited: WR Danny Amendola (hamstring), WR Kenny Golladay (hamstring), DE Da’Shawn Hand (groin), LB Julian Okwara (knee), CB Darryl Roberts (groin), RB D’Andre Swift (hip), T Halapoulivaati Vaitai (foot)
Thursday
DNP: S C.J. Moore (hamstring), WR Kenny Golladay (hamstring), T Halapoulivaati Vaitai (foot)
Limited: WR Danny Amendola (hamstring), DE Da’Shawn Hand (groin), CB Darryl Roberts (groin)
Fantasy football start/sit advice
Bears
Allen Robinson, Wide receiver, $6,500
Robinson is the only Bears offensive player you can truly count on. Anthony Miller and Tarik Cohen are the only other players I would consider, but Robinson has proven time and time again that he can produce with a bad quarterback throwing to him.
Tarik Cohen, Running back, $4,900
If David Montgomery is out for this game, Cohen gets a boost and would be worth playing. He wouldn’t take over Montgomery’s rushing attempts, but his usage would rise and he has the ability to make big plays out of nothing.
Lions
Kenny Golladay, Wide receiver, $6,200
The Bears defense is still good, but Golladay caught two touchdowns and averaged 100 yards receiving in his two matchups with the Bears last season and that was without Matthew Stafford. With Stafford back, I feel even safer playing him in Week 1.
Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, $6,200
Stafford was great last season but was hurt midway through. He returns to a tough matchup, but I’m on board with Stafford being somewhat matchup proof this season, especially in the dome, where weather won’t be a factor.