Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Prediction, Odds and Picks for Sunday, 01/04/26

Last season, the Lions captured the NFC North crown and the Bears finished in last place. How things have changed in one season as Chicago is the 2025 NFC North champion and Detroit is a loss away from closing in fourth place. Bears head coach Ben Johnson helped the Detroit offense dominate in 2024 as their offensive coordinator, but with his shift to the Windy City has flipped the division. Chicago (11-5) is coming off a tough 42-38 defeat at San Francisco last Sunday night in spite of 330 passing yards and a pair of TDs from QB Caleb Williams.

The Lions (8-8) buried the Bears in Week 2 at Ford Field, 52-21 as 6.5-point favorites in Johnson’s return to the Motor City. That began a four-game winning streak for Dan Campbell’s team, but the Lions alternated wins and losses in the next nine games. Detroit is looking to snap a three-game slide after falling to the Rams, Steelers, and Vikings. On Christmas, the Lions dropped a 23-10 decision at Minnesota as 7-point road favorites, falling to 1-4 in division play. Coincidentally, the only win against an NFC North opponent for Detroit was in Week 2 against Chicago, as the Lions seek their first road victory since Week 10 at Washington.

Chicago is playing for playoff seeding at this point, as the Bears are out of the running for the top seed and will begin the first round at Soldier Field. There is no confirmation on which starters may potentially sit for Detroit with them being eliminated. The Lions stumbled to a 1-4 SU/ATS mark as an underdog, with the lone victory coming at Baltimore in Week 3. The Bears have won five consecutive home games since dropping the opener to Minnesota. It’s hard to back an unmotivated team in Detroit, even as an underdog after being favored in the last 2 weeks.

Lions vs Bears prediction: Bears -3 available at time of publishing. Playable at that number. 

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