First of all : Happy New Year's everybody ! Hopefully we can all have a healthy, productive, and enjoyable year in 2026. I confess to being a huge 'homer' for the Chicago Bears. I was delighted last year when they drafted Caleb Williams with the number 1 pick only to see them completely fall apart with the most inept coaching in the NFL. Segue to this year with a top notch coach and it has been a pleasure to watch their games this year. I'm assuming that Johnson figured out that his young, talented QB needed a big physical offensive line and he addressed that in free agency. The Bears played Detroit in Week 2 in a game that saw Detroit healthy and the Bears still working to get their veteran O-Line into a solid unit. The Bears were also coming off a devastating 4th quarter collapse against the Vikings and were on a short week. Not surprisingly the Lions demolished the Bears 52-21. I won't say that the Lions deliberately ran up the score on the Bears, but they didn't take their foot off the accelerator and Campbell's post game comments weren't very flattering about the Bears and his ex-coordinator Ben Johnson. After the game I made the decision that I would only bet the Bears 1 time this year [ didn't want to jinx them ! ] and it would be the last game of the year against the Lions. We have seen the Lions collapse this year [ injuries as well as coaching decisions ] especially down the stretch and do not have anything to play for. In the meantime, the Bears have been consistently good all season [ although the defense has not been good ]. Before the line came out, I expected the Bears to be favored by at least 7 1/2 and was prepared to bet them at that line. The Bears at either 2 1/2 or 3 is my best bet of the year. Why: 

1] Even a blind person can see a 'revenge angle' to this game.

 2] I won't say the Bears weren't trying to win against the 49ers but the defense called no blitzes against the Niners, and the only trick/gimmick play was the 'hook and Ladder' on the next to last play. 

 3] What exactly does the Lions have to play for ? This is a solid veteran team that was a Super Bowl contender that can no longer make the playoffs. I'm guessing they are more focused on next week's tee times then giving maximum effort in a useless game.

4] I suggest that if anyone has any doubts, look at Goff's record against the Bears at Soldier Field in late season weather. He is more efficient indoors. Go all the way back to when he was with the Rams on their Super Bowl team that lost to the Bears in December at Soldier field by a score of 15-6.

5] The Lions completely s--t the bed against the Vikings last week when they still had a shot at the playoffs and they have really faltered down the stretch. Why will they suddenly play their best game of the year ?