Lions coach Dan Campbell indicated Monday that he planned to treat the game at the Bears on Sunday like any other, even with his team eliminated from the playoff race. He left enough gray area in his comments, though, that he could change his mind later in the week.
The Lions are 8-8, but the game is critical for the Bears in playoff seeding. They’re currently No. 2 in the NFC and would hold that spot with a win Sunday or an Eagles loss to the Commanders. If the Bears lose and Eagles win, the Bears would drop to third and possibly lose out on a home in the divisional round if they advanced.
“We’re not playing for the playoffs, but there’s still things we can find out,” Campbell said. “I expect the guys that we have here to give it what they’ve got one more time.”
He hedged a little when pressed on how he would handle injured players — “we’re pretty riddled right now,” he said — and would lean toward sitting a player who is hurt unless it’s minor.
Top wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who scorched the Bears for 115 yards and three touchdowns in the Lions’ 52-21 win in Week 2, has been dealing with a knee injury. His status is uncertain, but Campbell said his health has improved and, “He wants to go.”
If the Bears will open the playoffs at home because they won the NFC North, and if they handle their business and wrap up the No. 2 seed, they would guarantee themselves a home game in the divisional round if they reach it and home field for the NFC Championship game against anyone but the top seed.
With that on the line, there’s no doubt they’re taking the Lions game seriously.
“We want to give ourselves the best chances,” quarterback Caleb Williams said. “We’ll get ready for this game just like any other game. We want to bring it to them.”