Game Day: How to watch and 3 things to watch for Lions vs. Bears

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● When: Thurs., Nov. 28, 12:30 p.m.

● Where: Ford Field, Detroit

● How to watch: CBS (Jim Nantz/Tony Romo/Tracy Wolfson

● How to listen: 97.1-FM The Ticket in Metro Detroit or any number of network affiliates around the state.

● Line: Lions -10.5

● Injury report: The Lions will be more shorthanded than usual with cornerback Carlton Davis (knee), offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and wide receiver Kalif Raymond (foot) ruled out for the contest. The latter was placed on injured reserve and will miss at least the next four games.

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) and running back David Montgomery (shoulder) are listed as questionable but expected to play.

● Officiating assignment: Alan Eck’s crew. The second-year head official, who previously worked as a side judge and umpire from 2016-2022, has only handled one Lions game in his current role, last year’s Week 4 victory over Green Bay (34-20).

Eck’s group ranks in the bottom half of the league in flags thrown, averaging 13.55 per week.

● Last meeting: The Bears pounced on the Lions early and shut them out in the second half, cruising to a 28-13 victory at Solider Field in Week 14 last season. Lions quarterback Jared Goff had a rough afternoon, eating four sacks, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble.

Coverage from the week

● Three and Out: Absence validates rookie's performance

● How Lions could backfill potential Thanksgiving absences

● New QB, revamped coaching staff, Bears still struggling to turn corner

● Lions film review: What led to the offense's inconsistency against the Colts?

● Tuesday recap: Houston cut, Robertson a possibility outside, adding QB Jones hasn't been discussed

● As penalties and fines mounts, Lions' Branch not sweating possibility of a suspension

Three things worth watching

● The 2024 Lions are the breaker of streaks. They’ll have an opportunity to snap another against the Chicago Bears: A seven-game skid on Thanksgiving.

On the surface, you might think it would be a significant advantage to be hosting on a short week, but Lions coach Dan Campbell highlighted the added challenge of being the home team during the holiday.

“The distractions are on us, not on them,” Campbell said. “We’ve got all our family here, friends, all that. You’ve got to block it out. Tell them you love them and you’ll see them after the game.”

The Lions looked ill-prepared last Thanksgiving. The Packers came to town and bullied them, hitting Goff a dozen times in the 29-22 decision.

Through 11 games this season, the consistency of Detroit’s focus has seemingly been on another level. And it's felt sharpest when there’s a threat of getting too high or too low, whether an opportunity for vengeance (Dallas) or falling victim to a trap game (Jacksonville).

● Detroit has successfully navigated multiple high-profile injuries this season and faces another deck-shuffling against Chicago with Decker, Davis and Raymond sidelined.

Dan Skipper will assuredly take Decker’s spot in the lineup, although it remains to be seen whether the start comes at right or left tackle. Meanwhile, Raymond's punt return duties should be handled by Maurice Alexander, who was promoted from the practice squad Wednesday afternoon.

There’s a little more uncertainty regarding how the team will handle backfilling Davis' responsibilities at the outside corner. Last week, it was Kindle Vildor stepping in for Terrion Arnold, but the top backup proved to be a liability. The team may turn to him again, preferring to put more weight toward his entire body of work the past two years compared to one rough day.

Alternatively, the Lions could take the training wheels off Emmanuel Moseley a week after he returned from what amounted to a two-year layoff. Campbell said Monday he has no hesitation to play the veteran on defense after Moseley was caged to special teams in his debut last Sunday. There’s also the option of pushing Khalil Dorsey a rung up the depth chart.

The final possibility, which Campbell acknowledged the team has discussed, is moving Amik Robertson from the slot. It would be familiar territory for Detroit’s nickelback, who played outside for Las Vegas in 2023.

● Turnovers are important enough to highlight every week, but it’s worth pointing out Chicago forced 13 takeaways as part of the team’s 4-2 start, compared to five during their current five-game slide.

A key reason why the Lions were able to coast to a comfortable victory against the Colts last week, despite not playing their best game, is they finished with zero turnovers. Admittedly, there was some luck involved in that with Goff offering up a couple pickable passes and also fumbling in the pocket. The opposition simply failed to capitalize.

Overall, Detroit has been so good at protecting the ball this year. Outside of the Houston anomaly, they’ve given it away just five times in the 10 other games.

Alternatively, the Lions' defense could stand to return to its takeaway-generating ways. Last week was the first time they didn't intercept a pass this season. Additionally, they’ve gone four straight without recovering a fumble, only forcing one during that stretch.