Posted Record:
NFL Sides: 5-1 +9.9
NFL MLs: 0-2 -3.00
NFL Props: 0-1 -0.25
CFB Sides: 5-5 -4.40
The Bears are one of the teams I’m highest on. They get a huge coaching upgrade and a huge o-line upgrade. Also had a great draft.
Bears should be a little unpredictable with how they marry Ben Johnson’s schemes with this particular personnel. Ben Johnson on the offense and Dennis Allen on the defense is a top 5 unit. Caleb Williams just didn’t seem to be a good fit for the previous regime.
They did have good injury luck last year but overall luck, they’re 30th in the league. 3-7 in one score games. They played the league’s toughest schedule down the stretch. They actually did have a positive turnover margin due to some luck on defense, but they strengthened the unit in key areas.
Viking also had high injury luck (although not as high as the Bears), and 2nd in Team
Rankings.com luck metric – 8-1 in one score games which almost always regresses. They led the league in turnovers and second in turnover rate. That usually regresses and they have third oldest roster in the league. Their QB is a first year guy coming off a major injury…why do people think he’s going to be great right away? For this game in particular, rookie QBs win 30% of the time and less than that if you’re a first round pick.
I see the Bears being able to stop the run with the front 7 talent and Allen. New QB plus 3 new interior line starters on the road in game 1. They’ll be better long-term, but this is game 1. And no Addison which folks are downplaying. Jaylen Johnson’s injury hurts, but I think they will be fine here.
On the other side not only do I think Caleb is bound for a big jump with coaching, but he didn’t play bad at all against the Vikings. He had 2.42 time to throw and was great against the blitz. Ben Johnson has had a lot of success against Flores as well. And the Bears have the biggest jump in offensive line talent.
Give me the Bears here.
3* - Bears PK
