The Detroit Lions will take on the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day at Ford Field in Detroit. Fans can watch online the Lions vs. Bears NFL Week 13 matchup through live stream - free for subscribers - below.
The NFC North rivals may not have a high profile compared to other teams, but Detroit is considered the favorite to win this matchup. Although the Lions have a 7-4 record, they are hoping to avoid losing three straight games in a row, most recently to the New England Patriots 34-9.
"If I knew what was wrong, I would have already fixed it," Lions receiver Calvin Johnson said. "We still have time to get things going in the right direction."
According to an Associated Press report, the Lions now trail first-place Green Bay Packers by one game in the NFC North. They are also competing for the final wildcard spot with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, given the similar records this season.
"I'm not worried about (the) big picture to be honest with you," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "I'm worried about our next game and we'll deal with the big picture later on."
The outcome of this game could determine whether or not Detroit gets the wildcard spot. According to Anthony Riccobono of International Business Times, Detroit could lose the spot if the Bears win this Week 13 game.
It is important to note that the Bears have their own problems too. According to Riccobono, Chicago ranks near the bottom of the league in defense, and dominant offenses from teams such as the Patriots and Packers have pummeled them on the gridiron.
"However, Chicago's defense has performed much better against mediocre offenses, especially in the last two weeks, allowing the Buccaneers and Vikings to score just 13 points each," Riccobono wrote.
Riccobono adds that since Week 3, the Bears haven't scored more than 24 points and reached 30 points in any game this season. Based on that performance, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler thinks that the Lions will play a competitive game.
"Their offense is up and down at times but I'm sure they'll play well on Thursday," Cutler said. "They're reeling a bit, so we're going to get their very best shot. They're going to be ready for this one."
According to the Associated Press, Chicago's strategy to win includes putting points on the scoreboard early. Bears coach Marc Trestman has a plan to achieve that goal.
"We're just trying to focus on what we can do better and that is to be more consistent on offense and to use opportunities to make plays," Trestman said. "We need to do that from start to finish."
Although the Lions are favored to win, there are obstacles standing in their way. That includes the possibility that guard Larry Warford and tackle Riley Reiff would both be sidelined thanks to knee injuries, the Associated Press reports.
Despite those difficulties, Caldwell sees an upside of being coach for the Lions.
"That's the great part about coaching: we get to see the team during the good times and also during tough stretches, and how we respond," Caldwell said. "That's what makes a team. That's when you find out the kind of grit you have, the kind of toughness, the kind of leadership - when things aren't going quite as nice as you'd like them, see if they can battle through."
The game between the Lions and Bears will be broadcast on CBS tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT. Although subscriptions are required for both options, viewers can stream the match online in real time through NFL Sunday Ticket and catch it on demand through NFL Game Rewind.
