Week 17 Expert Picks: Bears are big underdogs again

No one should be surprised that the Chicago Bears are again big underdogs in Week 17. With only three wins on the season, the Bears are in the mix for the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Still, it’s difficult to accept a reality where an overwhelming majority of experts pick the Detroit Lions to upend the Bears in Detroit on Sunday. According to NFL Pick Watch, 94% of experts polled believe the Lions will even up their record at 8-8 and hand Chicago their 13th loss of the year.

What a difference a year makes. A loss in Week 17 would give Detroit the season sweep over the Bears. In 2021, it was Chicago that swept the Lions.

A loss to Detroit may be painful for Bears fans to swallow, but it will help Chicago’s quest for a high draft pick. At worst, it would mean the Bears hold the second overall pick. A best, it puts them one game closer to the No. 1 selection.

Assuming the Chicago Bears end the 2022 season with the second pick or higher, most mock drafts have GM Ryan Poles selecting Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. in the first round. He’d certainly make an 0-2 year against the Lions worth it.