The Chicago Bears (0-1) and Detroit Lions (0-1) clash in an NFC North showdown in NFL Week 2 on Sunday, September 14. Bears vs Lions kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET from Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. The game will broadcast on FOX.
The Lions are 6.5-point favorites over the Bears on the spread (Lions -6.5), with the over/under at 46.5. Detroit is a -275 moneyline favorite to win; Chicago is +235 to pull off the upset.
The NFC North projects as the toughest division in the NFL in 2025, and neither the Bears nor the Lions can afford to fall two games back of the Packers. Questions about the Lions will remain until they display a similarity to the squad that led the league in points scored a year ago. I have my doubts that this is the spot they’ll make their statement.
Let's get into my Bears vs Lions prediction for Sunday afternoon.
Bears vs Lions Prediction
- Bears vs Lions pick: Bears +6.5; bet to +4.5
My Bears vs Lions best bet is Bears +6.5, with the best price currently available at bet365. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
Bears vs Lions Odds
| Bears Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | +235 |
| Lions Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | -275 |
Bears vs Lions NFL Week 2 Preview
Chicago Bears Betting Preview: Ben Johnson Takes on Old Squad
The Caleb Williams experience was a roller coaster once again to open the season. The Bears quarterback was inconsistent with his accuracy, but he was not credited with a single turnover-worthy throw.
The matchup against the Lions will be a much easier task than that of dealing with a Brian Flores-led Vikings crew.
The Lions' pass defense ranked 31st last week in adjusted net yards per attempt allowed; they only pressured Jordan Love at a 26% rate, which ranked 28th.
I already have questions about the ability of the Lions to generate pressure with four pass rushers, and their secondary remains one of the weaker units in the NFL outside of safety Brian Branch.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson will know exactly how to attack and exploit Detroit's defense. Williams should find success early as he continues to build more confidence in executing Johnon's QB-friendly system.
Detroit Lions Betting Preview: Doubts at the Line of Scrimmage
The Lions averaged an abysmal 3.8 yards per play in Week 1 and created explosive plays of 10 or more yards at the league’s third-lowest rate.
Since the ascension of Detroit to true contender status over recent years, it has always boasted one of the league’s most dominant offensive lines. Now with Graham Glasgow moving to center and two new starters on the interior of the line at guard, there are doubts this team can impose its will at the line of scrimmage in the same manner.
Glasgow is off to a rough start at his new position, ranking 32nd out of 32 qualifying centers in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus. Both guards, rookie Tate Ratledge and second-year man Christian Mahogany, ranked outside of the top 35 grades at their position at PFF as they struggled mightily in pass protection.
There is a misnomer in football that you have to run the ball effectively to set up the play-action pass, but when it comes to the Lions, that truly is the foundation of their offense with Jared Goff at the helm.
Another concerning data point in week one came from their static pre-snap approach with the loss of Johnson as offensive coordinator.
Detroit used pre-snap motion at the league’s sixth-highest rate in 2024 at 59%, but in Week 1 that number dropped to 38%, ranking 30th league-wide.
All of this led to Goff being pressured on 37% of his dropbacks. The Packers' front seven will challenge many teams, but all of the concerns about the Lions came to fruition to begin the season, at least for one week.
Bears vs Lions Prediction, Betting Analysis
Underdogs of six or more points — that involve two 0-1 teams in Week 2 — have covered at a 68.6% rate since 2003, with a record of 24-11-1.
If you look at the entire month of September, instead of specifically focusing on Week 2, this trend remains strong: underdogs of six or more points, when both teams are coming off an early-season loss, boast a record of 30-14-2, covering at a 68.2% rate.
The Bears are live to pull off the upset today as these teams are much more evenly matched at the line of scrimmage than they were a season ago.
The market has not adjusted to the Lions’ deficiencies at this point, which makes Chicago a tremendous value at +6.5 or better, although I would actually play this down to +4.5.
Pick: Bears +6.5; bet to +4.5
Spread
The Bears have a lot of value in this spot. I'm betting the Bears at +6.5 and would take it to +4.5.
Moneyline
The Bears are definitely in play for the upset, but I prefer to take them on the spread.
Over/Under
I have no bet for the game total.
