The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears both hoped to do some damage in the NFC North this season, but Sunday's game between the two will be a battle for who can finish the season closest to .500. Both teams sit at 6-9, well out of the postseason race and well back of the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, the top teams tied for the top of the division.
Lions vs. Bears 2016 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Lions and Bears don’t have much on the line, but the pair of under-performing teams will face off on Sunday.
Both teams fell well short of expectations this season. With guys like Jay Cutler, Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Alshon Jeffery, the Bears and Lions should be playing much better football. These teams are under-performing big time, especially on the offensive side of the ball, where they should be above average.
But the Lions rank 18th in the league in total offense, and second to last in the NFL in rushing yardage. When it comes to points scored, they also rank 18th in the league with 22.3 points scored per game. Chicago ranks 22nd in points scored per game with 21.0, and 20th in the league in total offense. They fare well running the ball, but come in at 23rd in the league with 228.6 passing yards per game.
Jay Cutler hasn’t played poorly this year, the Bears have simply looked flat more often than naught. Cutler has completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 3,414 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s looking at his lowest interception total since 2011, though his yardage, touchdowns and completion percentage are all average or just below average for him, factoring in a couple of missed games per season every season since 2010.
At this stage, these two teams are battling for draft positioning and losing may ultimately be better for either franchise. Then again, the Lions may have several people looking for new jobs this offseason, so any strong performance can only help them keep their jobs or find new ones.
The Lions have already made a switch at team president, bringing in Rod Wood in place of Tom Lewand. The team also parted ways with Martin Mayhew, and they will be looking for a new general manager as soon as the season comes to an end.
Whether or not Jim Caldwell is coaching for his job is unclear. If they land a big-name general manager they trust enough to spearhead a new search for a head coach, then Caldwell could easily be out after Detroit’s disappointing season.
Then again, the Lions have flashed that potential at times this season. They hung 45 points on the the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12, and have put up over 30 points in each of their last two games, both of which were wins. They dominated the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints in their last games.
On top of that, they beat the Bears the last time they played, back in Week 6 when every win mattered. That game ended, 37-34, in favor of the Lions in overtime. Stafford threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns while the Lions managed 155 rushing yards. The Bears forced overtime with 18 points in the fourth quarter but could get it done when things mattered most.
How to watch
When: 1 p.m. ET Sunday
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.
TV: FOX
Commentators: Joe Davis, Brady Quinn
Online: Watch NFL Live
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