Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions: Monday Night Free Football Pick

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions: Monday Night Free Football Pick: The Chicago Bears have been solid. The Lions have played out of their minds. Their are two 4-0 teams in the NFL right now, and they are in the same division. No, you’re right, one of them isn’t the Bears. The Bears are 2-2, but look a little more explosive offensively this season. Defensively, they’ve struggled a bit, but Matt Forte has been really good, and Cutler hasn’t made near as many mistakes to hurt the team. But they haven’t been the Lions. The Lions are tied with the Packers for the best record in the NFL, undefeated, through the first quarter of the season. Not many expected that kind of jump.

And honestly, it probably shouldn’t be that way. The Lions have been way down in each of their last wins – down 20-0 against the Minnesota Vikings and 27-3 in Dallas. 20 or more points in each of their last 2 games, and they’ve won both of them. That’s nuts. One reason is that they are one of the most explosive offenses in football. Matthew Stafford has been great, and he’s been healthy – which is huge. Jahvid Best has been a great pass catcher out of the backfield (even though the running game has struggled) and Calvin Johnson is off his rocker, catching 2 touchdown passes in each of his first 4 games. That’s nuts. Titus Young is stepping into a bigger role, and Brandon Petitgrew is as reliable as it gets over the middle. They do work in Detroit. Plus, teams can’t run the game out defensively. When other teams are up, they are still running it straight into Suh and company, and the Lions are better defensively than they’ve been in forever.

Still, I like the Bears. Those big points the Lions give up early will haunt them sooner or later – and I think it’s going to be sooner. You can’t be down 20 and win every game. I think this one will be close. The Bears do a good job of gutting you for big plays and using Forte to keep you honest. I’ll take the points.

Chicago Bears (+5.5) @ Detroit Lions