Detroit Free Press

Mitch Albom

Lions 28, Bears 23: Not as easy as it should be, perhaps, but they have too much steam behind them now to go off the track on this rail. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

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Jeff Seidel

Lions 25, Bears 21: This is an absolute must win for the Lions to get into the playoffs. It won’t be easy. The Lions have to figure out a way to convert in the red zone.

Shawn Windsor

Lions 23, Bears 16: It’s tempting to take Chicago because the Lions finally are pulling you in, and normally it would be time to break your heart. Not yet. Not with this team. They do just enough. Again.

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Dave Birkett

Lions 28, Bears 14: If you believe the Lions are not the Same Old variety anymore, there’s no reason to think they’ll lose this game. They’re the clearly superior team, playing at home and with big stakes on the line. It’s true they’ve played down to their competition at times this year, but they’ve also won many of those games late in the fourth quarter and have taken seven of eight overall.

For the Bears to have a chance, they’ll have to control the clock, get a big day out of Howard and force a few Lions turnovers. Playing at Ford Field, it’s unlikely all three of those things will happen.

Instead, expect the Bears to keep things close early with their underrated defense and the Lions to pull away by early in the second half. Stafford should have a big day, and the Lions will move one step closer to clinching the division.