The Detroit Lions (0-1) continue NFC North play in their home-opener at Ford Field on Sunday, hosting the Chicago Bears (0-1) in a crucial divisional matchup for both teams.
After each faltering in Week 1, the Lions and Bears are looking to rebound and avoid an 0-2 start.
The matchup serves as the return for former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to Detroit after taking the head coaching job in Chicago in January. Detroit has been the stronger team in recent memory, winning five of the last six matchups between the divisional foes.
Here are score predictions for Sunday’s home-opener from MLive’s beat writers:
Ben Raven
I’m going back to the well, and picking the Detroit Lions to win. Dan Campbell hasn’t lost consecutive games in the regular season since October 2022.
I’m not expecting everything to be perfect, as there are clearly some growing pains to work through on the offensive line. But I like Detroit’s matchup in this game, and think they should be able to manufacture some pressure while Aidan Hutchinson makes more noise against old friend Ben Johnson. Prediction: Lions 24, Bears 17
Kory Woods
You hate to “go there” and call a Week 2 game a “must-win,” but that’s exactly where the Lions are. They can’t afford to fall to 0-2 in the division, and they definitely can’t walk into Monday Night Football against the Ravens with that record—otherwise they’re behind the eight ball before the season even gets rolling.
And on top of it, this is their first meeting with Ben Johnson. They can’t drop that one either.
With it being the home opener, I expect the Lions to set the tone early in the trenches and frustrate Caleb Williams by collapsing the pocket—inside and out—against a Bears offensive line that doesn’t impress. Prediction: Lions 30, Bears 14
Jacob Richman
Yes, the Lions got picked apart by Jordan Love to start the season off, but they did keep him from making any plays with his legs. If the Lions can do the same to Chicago’s Caleb Williams, it’s going to be a long day for the Bears as he did a lot of his real damage in Week 1 as a scrambler.
I have a hard time seeing the Lions offense being so stagnant against a lesser defense, particularly when the home-field advantage is going to help out with the communication issues they faced in Week 1.
These coaching staffs know each other well, so I don’t want to predict a runaway, but the Lions will try and make a statement against Ben Johnson’s Bears. Prediction: Lions 31, Bears 17
Here are some additional predictions from national media for the Lions-Bears game:
Pick: Lions
“The Bears are on the road off a short week against the Lions coming off a road loss. The Lions didn’t look good in the loss to the Packers, but now they can get the offense going against a Bears defense that collapsed in the fourth quarter against the Vikings. The Lions win it.”
Pick: Lions (unanimous)
Pick: Lions (unanimous)
“Monday night’s meltdown, in which Minnesota scored 21 unanswered to overcome a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit, has the Chicago fan base questioning both its coach and QB. But let’s take a deep breath, fellow Bears fans. After all, one game doesn’t (shouldn’t) define a career. In the same vein, though, one week might not be enough time for (Ben) Johnson and Caleb Williams to cure what ails Chicago’s offense. I know Detroit is also reeling following its miserable Week 1 at Lambeau, but I’ve seen Dan Campbell rally his crew after an L before. In fact, per NFL Research, the Lions are the only team that hasn’t lost back-to-back regular-season games since 2023 and are 11-4 after a loss since 2022 (fourth-best). The wins will come for this Bears team -- just maybe not this weekend.”
Pick: Lions
“The Lions did not look like the Lions of last season in their Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers, including only rushing for 46 yards. They will look more like Detroit in Detroit.”
Pick: Lions
“Chicago coach Ben Johnson – the Lions’ offensive coordinator from 2022-24 – makes a quick return to Ford Field. The Lions need to turn up the pressure here on Caleb Williams, and they will at home. Look for Jahymr Gibbs and David Montgomery to bounce back, too. The Lions were 5-5 ATS at home last season.”
Pick: Lions (majority)
“The Lions were dismantled in Week 1. The Lions get home cooking in Motown this week. They’ll play better at home against their former offensive coordinator turned Bears head coach, Ben Johnson.”
Pick: Lions (unanimous)
“From 15-2 in the 2024 regular season to 0-2 between the 2024 postseason and Week 1. The Lions are experiencing the growing pains of a team that is learning how to be a winner.”
Pick: Lions (majority)
“The Lions didn’t look like themselves against the Packers in Week 1, but I expect that feeling to be short-lived.
Detroit will look to get back to pounding the ball on the ground with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in front of its home crowd as it looks to welcome Johnson back to Ford Field by sending his Bears to 0-2 to start the season.
Caleb Williams can be elusive in the pocket, but Detroit can ratchet up the pressure, get to the young QB and pull away in the second half in a balanced effort on both sides of the ball."
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