NFL Football Picks – Chicago Bears Welcome Detroit Lions To Soldier Field

The Detroit Lions are coming off the worst football picks seasons in franchise history – in which they combined to win a total of two games in two years.

The Detroit franchise is looking to turn over a new leaf in 2010 and will start their campaign off against a division rival, the Chicago Bears.

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears

Live from Soldier Field, Illinois
Kickoff: 1:00 pm EST September 12, 2010
TV/Radio: Fox

Football Picks:

Detroit Lions              +6.5
Chicago Bears            -6.5
Total                           44

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Detroit and Chicago are showing great upside this season in large part to the young talent they have acquired and development on the offensive side of the ball.

This offseason, Detroit signed free agent wide receiver Nate Burleson in an attempt to prevent opposing teams from committing their entire secondary to stopping Calvin Johnson.

The Lions also drafted running back Jahvid Best in the first round of the 2010 football draft, and Best has already claimed the starting tailback job.

Furthermore, the chemistry between sophomore quarterback Matthew Stafford and wideout Calvin Johnson is greatly improved now that they have had a chance to play a season together.

Chicago, meanwhile, is undergoing a transformation on offense with the hiring of head coach Mike Martz this offseason.

Martz’ run-and –gun style is a system that has never been deployed in the Windy City, and it remains to be seen how quarterback Jay Cutler can adjust.

Chicago’s 23-year-old running back Matt Forte is coming off a mediocre season and is out to prove his versatility that he displayed as rookie two years ago, when he rushed for over 1200 yards while catching 63 passes out of the backfield, is perfect fit in Martz’ scheme.

Although both Chicago and Detroit have made the necessary improvements to be successful on offense, their defenses still lack some of the personnel that is required to compete for a playoff spot in the NFC.

Detroit ranked dead last in almost every defensive statistic last season giving up an average of 265.6 receiving yards per game and surrendering nearly 400 total yards per contest.

The Lions also gave up 494 points to opposing teams last season, an average of 30.9 points per game (last in the NFL).

Chicago’s defensive was hardly any better as they gave up an average of 126.4 rushing yards per game (23rd in the league) and opportunistic turnovers were few and far between – the Bears only had 13 interceptions the entire 2009 regular season.

Marshall Mention: In the Bears and Lions last three games against each other, the combined point total has been greater than 50.

NFL Football Pick: Over 44