Mitchell Trubisky has struggled to answer questions about the future of the Chicago Bears' quarterback position while the Detroit Lions are addressing immediate issues heading into their Thanksgiving Day showdown in Motown. Trubisky will look to boost the Bears' rail-thin postseason aspirations with another strong performance against the Lions.
Trubisky has thrown for just 10 touchdowns this season, although three were recorded in Chicago's 20-13 victory over Detroit on Nov. 10. The former second overall pick threw for a score and rushed for another in Sunday's 19-14 win over the New York Giants, lifting the Bears to their second victory in three outings on the heels of a four-game losing skid. Detroit has lost four in a row and seven of eight overall after dropping a 19-16 decision at Washington, with backup Jeff Driskel tossing three interceptions in that contest. Driskel showed up on Monday's injury report with an ailing hamstring and was limited in Tuesday's practice, raising concerns as to whether he or undrafted rookie quarterback David Blough will be under center on Thanksgiving Day.
TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Pick. O/U: 38.5
ABOUT THE BEARS (5-6): Trubisky, who threw for 355 yards and three scores in a win over the Lions last year, will look to exploit Detroit's third-worst NFL pass defense (275.5 yards per game) on Thursday. Allen Robinson had six receptions in the previous meeting with Detroit and matched that number for a season-best 131 yards receiving and a touchdown against the Giants last week. Running back Tarik Cohen reeled in a scoring strike in the previous encounter with the Lions to give him four touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving) in five career games against Detroit. The versatile dynamo had seven catches and a receiving score versus the Lions in last year's Thanksgiving Day tilt.
ABOUT THE LIONS (3-7-1): Bo Scarbrough has provided a presence in the backfield that had been missing since Kerryon Johnson sustained a knee injury last month, with the former rushing 18 times for 98 yards against the Redskins. The passing offense has taken a significant hit without Matthew Stafford, with Kenny Golladay limited to just eight catches for 152 yards and one touchdown in his last three games. Golladay's score was a result of a fortunate 47-yard heave from Driskell with 5:53 to play in the fourth quarter against Chicago. Fellow wideout Marvin Jones, who leads the team in receptions (56) and is tied in TD catches with Golladay, has just 89 receiving yards over his last two games.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Blough, who played collegiately at Purdue, threw for 271 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions during the preseason.
2. Chicago has recorded points on just one of its 11 opening offensive drives this season.
3. Lions DT Mike Daniels has collected at least one sack in each of his last three games versus the Bears.
Prediction