BEARS +8.5
When the difference between teams and the talent in the NFL is minute the results that we see every weekend is more to do with coaching, preparation and motivation. These factors are exposed to its maximum as we near the seasons end. We see where some team that are poor in the record give great effort while those that have more talent and were preseason contenders that now find themselves without hope, more or less pack it in and look to preserve their health. These teams and their lame duck coaches are filing their resumes and looking to break their leases all which leads to none of the supreme focus needed to preform at a high level in this very competitive league.
In addition, during this war of attrition teams that are locked in to the playoffs seem to play like the teams that have "checked out". These teams are more concerned with health and safety than the task at hand. Now put this current emotional state, along with a huge task next week, and today's outcome is meaningless vs. a division foe underdog, who will rally around the backup QB, and you have a recipe for a underdog outcome.
Yes I know the Bears are terrible but when you break it down you find a backup QB fighting to prove that he belongs in the league, a head coach trying to save his job, a team that will rally combined with a fan base that will back the team to show not that they actually support this version of the Bears, but that they hate the current situation (Cutler) with such a passion that they would like nothing better than to show that he is no longer needed and/or wanted by the home town.
The Lions have virtually nothing to play for and the result today win or lose won't mean anything as they have the Packers on deck for the division title next week in Lambeau. I expect a very angry team looking to make amends for the embarrassment of the season as a home divisional dog vs. a team with greater aspirations and a huge game next week. Think this crazy? All one need to do is look to last night in DC as evidence that this is more the norm than the exception.
OTHER PLAYS:
Jets +11
Cardinals +7.5
Bengals +3.5 (Mon)
SEASON RECORD:
27-20-4
GOOD FORTUNE TO ALL-PHD