The Detroit Lions are all alone at the top of the NFC North, and they’ll try to keep things that way when they host the last-place Chicago Bears in Week 14. The game will be televised on CBS and is available to stream online for CBS All Access subscribers.
Bears vs. Lions 2016: Time, TV schedule for NFL Week 14 matchup
The Lions are looking to consolidate their lead in the NFC North.
These teams last met in Week 5, when the Bears pulled off a 17-14 upset win, which is just their third of the season. Brian Hoyer started that game, throwing for 302 yards and two touchdowns. The Lions couldn’t get anything going on offense, failing to find the end zone. Their only touchdown came on an Andre Roberts punt return.
Of course, things are much different now for both teams. The Lions surged to 8-4, winning four consecutive games heading into Sunday. They have a two-game lead over the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings in the division. The Bears are out of the playoff picture at 3-9 and lost both Hoyer and Jay Cutler to season-ending injuries. Their current starter is Matt Barkley.
It’s been a miserable season for Chicago, with injuries and suspensions depleting the depth chart. However, the Bears have one bright spot in rookie running back Jordan Howard, who has helped the offense keep a pulse. Howard ran all over the San Francisco 49ers last week, piling up 117 yards and three touchdowns in snowy conditions to lead the Bears to a 26-6 win. In a year when Chicago fans haven’t had much to cheer for, Howard stands out as a highlight.
Meanwhile, the Lions have been getting wins by the skin of their teeth. Before Week 13, each of their wins happened with them trailing in the fourth quarter and usually ended with Matthew Stafford making a heroic comeback.
They finally broke the trend last week. The Lions controlled the New Orleans Saints throughout and were never seriously threatened in a 28-13 victory. Detroit entered the fourth quarter with a 19-13 lead and put the game away when Golden Tate took a pass 66 yards to the end zone. Stafford finished with 341 yards and two touchdowns on 30-of-42 passing.
What might be most surprising about that game was the defense, which has been a weak spot all year, putting the clamps on Drew Brees. The Lions picked off Brees three times, killing any chances he had to put the Saints back in the game. It was the first time in seven years Brees failed to throw a touchdown pass in the Superdome. This is possibly the most complete performance the Lions had in the season.
The Lions have been lucky this year. However, the team has frequently made its own luck, taken advantage of opportunities, and now has a legitimate shot to win the NFC North. That’s quite the turnaround from last year, when they started 1-7 and were never in serious playoff contention. This Lions team is quite different from the one that lost to Chicago in early October.
How to watch
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Place: Ford Field, Detroit
TV: CBS
Announcers: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
Online: Sunday Ticket, CBS All Access
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