NFL Week 13 picks: Colts, Broncos, and Seahawks
Lorenzo Reyes is back with his best bets for NFL Week 13 games, including Thursday’s Thanksgiving slate.
Lorenzo’s Locks
The Bears may have burnt the turkey on Thanksgiving.
The Lions looked to make their Thanksgiving matchup vs. the Bears a laugher, but they eked by Chicago, 23-20, thanks to some bizarre late-game clock management that cost Caleb Williams and Co. a victory.
Chicago was in Detroit territory with time winding down, but after a sack with 32 seconds left on the game clock, the Bears sideline failed to call a timeout. That led to Williams chucking up something of a prayer ball to Rome Odunze, which fell harmlessly incomplete in the end zone.
Detroit led 16-0 at the half, with Chicago’s offense looking lifeless in the process. Williams came alive in the second half, throwing three touchdown passes to keep the Bears in the game.
Chicago’s defense deserves a fair bit of credit for not letting this one slip away. After a second-quarter touchdown, the Lions would have to settle for two more field goals in the half, thanks partly to the red zone defense of the Bears. They held the Lions’ potent offense to a single score in the second half.
With the win, the Lions continue to roar through the NFC at 11-1 and inch closer to a playoff berth, which they can secure this weekend with some help around the NFC.
The Bears fall to 4-8, extending their losing streak to six games and setting fire to Eberflus’ chair.
USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights and more from the Thanksgiving Day tilt between the Lions and the Bears below. All times are Eastern.
The Bears overcooked the turkey.
Chicago looked to be in the driver’s seat to at least tie their Thanksgiving matchup vs. the Lions, but somehow, someway, Matt Eberflus and Co. decided to let the final 32 seconds of game time tick off the clock, resulting in a rushed Caleb Williams deep ball that fell incomplete.
Chicago had one timeout remaining and plenty of time to set up inside field goal range. Instead, the Lions escape with a 23-20 victory thanks to the Bears’ sideline confusion.
It ain’t over till your uncle’s head hits the couch cushion after dinner.
What looked to be a laugher in the making has turned into a tight game, with Caleb Williams finding D.J. Moore for a touchdown pass with 5:36 left in the game. Chicago now trails by just three points with time winding down. Lions 23, Bears 20
Allen was rolled up on in the fourth quarter vs. the Lions. He entered the medical tent, had his ankle taped up and reentered the game after that. Allen has two touchdowns on the day.
Keenan Allen is hungry for points.
The Bears receiver gobbled up his second touchdown grab of the day. Chicago is now 2 for 2 on touchdown drives in the second half and pulls to within 10 points of tying the game. Lions 23, Bears 13
Seconds, anyone?
Tight end Sam LaPorta is coming alive in the Thanksgiving matchup, scoring a second touchdown from Jared Goff on a play action pass. Lions lead, 23-7.
Hurdles are failed more often than they are successful in the NFL. Jameson Williams hit a successful leap over Bears safety Kevin Byard III on Thanksgiving, getting way up on the attempt and getting extra yards.
The Bears look like a different team coming out of the locker room. After a first half that saw just a few first downs from the Bears offense, they scored on their first drive, a Caleb Williams touchdown pass to Keenan Allen.
The throw came a play after Williams took an ugly hit to his lower half. Lions 16, Bears 7
If you’re curious what the patch that the Lions and Bears have on their jerseys, it’s the silhouette of John Madden, who passed away in 2021.
Madden is synonymous with Thanksgiving football, and both teams are paying tribute to him on Turkey Day.
Shaboozey burst onto the country music scene this year with his two features on Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album – which were the most of any artist on that record – as well as his hit single “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
The Virginia native’s song held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard top 100 for 19 straight weeks, tying the record set by Lil Nas X’s 2019 hit “Old Town Road.”
The Lions made stuffing of the Bears after 30.
The scoreboard reads 16-0, but it might as well be 40-0 after one half of the Bears-Lions Thanksgiving matchup. The Bears have just 53 total yards of offense and picked up their first, first down with a minute left in the half.
Lions 16, Bears 0
The Lions looked poised to at least net another three points before the half. Tyrique Stevenson would knock the ball out of the hands of Gibbs inside the five yard line, stopping the Lions and giving the Bears the ball back with under a minute left in the half.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
With the Bears still searching for their first, first down of the affair, Matt Eberflus and Co. opted to go for it on fourth-and-3 from their own 37-yard line. A Caleb Williams pass fell incomplete, giving the ball back to the the Lions with under two minutes left in the half.
Well, the Bears defense is doing its part.
The Lions settled for a 48-yard field goal with 3:11 left in the half, getting some pressure on Goff during the drive to hold them to just three points. The Bears have yet to tally a first down in the half. Lions 16, Bears 0
The Lions were threatening to score another touchdown, but a penalty and a sack moved them back, and eventually they settled for a 36-yard Jake Bates field goal to extend the lead to 13-0 midway through the second quarter. Lions 13, Bears 0
The Lions are without star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the remainder of the season, but his presence is still felt.
On Thursday, Hutchinson was taking in the game from a luxury box, and he, along with the rest of the visitors in the suite, were all wearing very festive turkey hats.
The turkey isn’t the only thing cooking at the moment.
The Lions notched their eighth play of 10-plus yards vs. the Bears with 11:21 left in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Bears have run just six plays total and are still looking for their first, first down of the afternoon.
Through a quarter and some change, it’s been all Lions.
Sam LaPorta put snagged a touchdown pass from Jared Goff at 14:55 in the second quarter, giving the Lions a 10-point lead early on. It’s LaPorta’s fourth TD reception of the season.
A very early Hail Mary from the sidelines came up short.
Jameson Williams caught, and subsequently dropped, a pass over the middle of the field. On the field, it was ruled incomplete, but Bears coach Matt Eberflus wasn’t convinced. Eberflus challenged the play and the call on the field was upheld.
Eberflus has just a 20% successful challenge rate.
The Bears couldn’t pick up a first down on their first drive, but the highlight of the drive was wideout D.J. Moore taking a big hit and taking a few seconds to get up off the turf.
He would enter the blue medical tent.
A methodical first drive for the Lions that had plenty of promise ended in a 30-yard Jake Bates field goal.
The Lions didn’t have much issue moving the ball on the first drive, potentially signaling some level of danger for the Bears. Lions 3, Bears 0
Yes, you read that right.
Offensive tackle Penei Sewell lined up at slot receiver, took an end-around handoff and looked to pass downfield. Again, you read that right. Instead, Sewell didn’t like his options, and would be sacked. No easy task for the Bears defense to bring down the big man.
Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving game start time
- Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 28
The Lions and Bears will kick off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving Day.
The Bears travel to Ford Field in Detroit to take on their division rival.
- Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET
The Lions are set for kickoff vs. the Bears at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving game TV channel
CBS is the broadcast home to the Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving Day game.
Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the call, with Tracy Wolfson adding reports from the sideline.
Lions vs. Bears picks, predictions
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Lions vs. Bears divisional matchup on Thanksgiving will shake out:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Lions 28, Bears 13
- Tyler Dragon: Lions 31, Bears 17
- Richard Morin: Lions 38, Bears 29
- Jordan Mendoza: Lions 29, Bears 17
For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season.
- Digital: 21 | Virtual: 62
CBS in Detroit can be found on channel 62.
How apropos.
Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery – nicknamed “Sonic and Knuckles” after the famed video game characters – got to meet with the “real” Sonic and Knuckles ahead of Detroit’s showdown with the Bears on Thanksgiving Day.
It looks like Amon-Ra St. Brown is set to play after his name was listed on the injury report earlier this week. The same is said true of running back David Montgomery, who is dealing with a shoulder issue. Here’s the list of inactives for the Lions-Bears Thanksgiving matchup:
After being listed on the injury report earlier this week with a knee injury, the Lions wide receiver is set to play vs. the Bears on Thanksgiving.
No real surprises on the Bears inactives list, outside of offensive lineman Ryan Bates, who was dealing with a concussion entering this matchup.
The Lions are favorites to defeat the Bears, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.
- Spread: Lions (-10)
- Moneyline: Lions (-550); Bears (+400)
- Over/under: 48.5
While the season hasn’t gone how Bears fans had hoped, maybe Thanksgiving can offer something of a turning point, if their Thanksgiving record is any indication. The Bears are 20-15-2 all-time on Thanksgiving, a solid Turkey Day mark.
The NFC North has been fairly competitive in 2024, but the Lions are the cream of the crop in the division – and all of the NFC, as well. Here’s how the division stacks up entering the Thanksgiving game:
- Lions (10-1)
- Vikings (9-2)
- Packers (8-3)
- Bears (4-7)
Updated 2025 NFL draft order
Here’s how the 2025 NFL draft order shakes out after Week 12’s slate, according to Tankathon.com:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9 record; .495 strength of schedule
- New York Giants: 2-9; .529 SOS
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2-9; .532 SOS
- New England Patriots: 3-9; .466 SOS
- Carolina Panthers: 3-8; .487 SOS
- Tennessee Titans: 3-8; .503 SOS
- New York Jets: 3-8; .505 SOS
- Cleveland Browns: 3-8; .518 SOS
- New Orleans Saints: 4-7; .487 SOS
- Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7; .495 SOS
- Dallas Cowboys: 4-7; .518 SOS
- Chicago Bears: 4-7; .555 SOS
- Indianapolis Colts: 5-7; .482 SOS
- Miami Dolphins: 5-6; .429 SOS
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-6; .511 SOS
- Los Angeles Rams: 5-6; .532 SOS
- San Francisco 49ers: 5-6; .553 SOS
- Arizona Cardinals: 6-5; .529 SOS
- Atlanta Falcons: 6-5; .503 SOS
- Seattle Seahawks: 6-5; .519 SOS
- Washington Commanders: 7-5; .447 SOS
- Houston Texans: 7-5; .487 SOS
- Denver Broncos: 7-5; .492 SOS
- Los Angeles Chargers: 7-4; .476 SOS
- Baltimore Ravens: 8-4; .521 SOS
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-3; .479 SOS
- Green Bay Packers: 8-3; .545 SOS
- Minnesota Vikings: 9-2; .497 SOS
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2; .432 SOS
- Buffalo Bills: 9-2; .464 SOS
- Kansas City Chiefs: 10-1; .492 SOS
- Detroit Lions: 10-1; .524 SOS
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