In Detroit, the Lions had better hope they would get a good rest after their bye week. Why? Because they head into their schedule with four road games in the next five weeks against teams with a combined record of 16-5. They play at Dallas (3-2) Sunday and at Minnesota (5-0) next week. Then home against Tennessee (1-3) before heading to play in Green Bay (3-2) and Houston (4-1). The Lions are 7-3 on the road since the start of last year, including 1-0 this year.
In Chicago, the Bears are confident after extending their home winning streak to eight games with a win over the Panthers. They head to London to play the Jaguars as fans celebrate with some great numbers on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Bears had 16 points from three takeaways last week and 40 points from 11 takeaways this season. Offensively, rookie QB Caleb Williams’ pass rating has improved every week since Week 2. He went from 51.0 to 80.8 to 106.6 to 126.2, the highest by a Bears rookie since at least 1970, surpassing Jim McMahon’s 121.1 in a 34-26 win over the Rams in 1982.
In Green Bay, the Packers posted 95-plus yard touchdown drives in consecutive weeks for the first time in 45 years. They did so in a Week 4 home loss to the Vikings and a Week 5 road win against the Rams. Green Bay also ranks first in offensive plays of 20+ yards (27) and ranks first in completions of 20+ yards.
Bears (-2) vs. Jaguars in London
The Bears are playing very well defensively and are improving offensively with rookie QB Caleb Williams. The Jaguars are so disappointed that Doug Pederson is the next likely coach to be fired now that the Jets fired Robert Saleh following their loss in London last week. Pederson has to survive games in London this week and next week against New England. Bears 27, Jaguars 19
The Cardinals aren’t good, but they are dangerous (just ask the 49ers). The Packers aren’t great, but home-field advantage, an opportunistic defense with 14 league-leading goals, and a weak third-place Arizona defense will add up to a Green Bay win. Packers 28, Cardinals 20
