CHICAGO vs. HOUSTON (HOU -6.5, 45.5)
NFL ODDS, NFL PREDICTIONS, NFL PREVIEWS
BEARS @ TEXANS 9/15/24
Bears coach Matt Eberflus was questioned early on Wednesday during his press conference about how Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams debuted last Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. It didn’t go so well, but the rookie ended up with a win thanks to Tennessee QB Will Levis’s game-winning pick-six. Eberflus was asked if Williams could have a season similar to his opponent, Houston QB CJ Stroud, who was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Eberflus deftly avoided drawing a comparison that would have raised Williams' already lofty expectations even further. Stroud had one of the best rookie quarterback seasons in NFL history. Williams had a rough first career start and the Bears needed their strong defense and special teams to defeat the Tennessee Titans 24–17 at home.
On Sunday, the Texans (1-0) will play host to the Bears (1-0) in a game that will showcase the standards Williams has to uphold. In last Sunday's 29-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on the road, Stroud had a great game, passing for 234 yards and two touchdowns. He ended with a passer rating of 115.9.
In contrast, Williams led an offense that failed to score a touchdown while averaging just 3.2 yards per attempt and throwing for just 93 yards. He also had a 55.7 passer rating. Eberflus said he thought his quarterback played well. That, of course, is a relative term.
Two touchdown returns helped the Bears win last week. Most notable was cornerback Tyrique Stevenson's 43-yard interception return with 7:35 remaining in regulation. Chicago held Titans quarterback Will Levis to 4.0 yards per attempt, picked him off twice, and sacked him three times.
Williams will continue to develop and while that happens, the Bears may need to put on another dominating defensive display against the Texans. The Bears have two wide receivers on the injury report for Sunday - Rome Odunze (MCL strain) and Keenan Allen (heel).
The Texans had no such issues on offense. Houston had the AFC Offensive Player of the Week - Joe Mixon who had 30 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown. Veteran WR Stefon Diggs had two touchdown catches in his first game as a Texasn. Despite being sacked four times, Stroud maintained composure and did not turn the ball over. He was able to find Nico Collins six times for 117 yards).
The Bears will be without FB Khari Blasingame (hand/knee) and OT Ryan Bates (shoulder/elbow). Chicago also listed defensive end DeMarcus Walker (foot) as questionable in addition to Allen and Odunze. Houston safety JM Stewart (leg) is out. Center Juice Scruggs (groin) and running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) are listed as questionable.
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
BEARS-TEXANS UNDER 45.5
It’s no secret that the Bears struggled on offense last week. Rookie QB Caleb Williams had 93 yards passing and Chicago didn’t score an offensive touchdown. On the other side of the ball, the Bears defense was outstanding. The Bears D pitched a second half shutout and returned a blocked punt and an interception for touchdowns. Houston’s defense is no joke either. The Texans held the Colts to under 200 yards passing last week. They sacked Colts QB Anthony Richardson twice and intercepted him once. Eight of the Bears last 11 games have gone Under the total. Four of the last six games in this series have gone Under as well.