Houston Texans (0-0) vs. Chicago Bears (0-0)
August 1, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Chicago Bears +1.5 ; Over/Under: 31.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Houston Texans and Chicago Bears meet Thursday in NFL preseason action at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Here’s a Chicago Bears vs Houston Texans Prediction. This article will include a Chicago Bears vs Houston Texans Pick.
Houston Texans Betting Preview
The Houston Texans were the surprise team in the NFL last season, going from 3 wins in 2022 to 10 wins. The Texans won’t catch anyone by surprise this season in the second year under coach DeMeco Ryans. The Texans look to make the playoffs in back to back years for the first time since 2018-19. Quarterback C.J. Stroud has become a star rather quickly, and that Houston offense has new talent around him with the additions of running back Joe Mixon and wide receiver Stefon Diggs. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Texans have a top-10 offense this season.
Defensively, there are a lot of moving parts and it could take some adjusting. The addition of Danielle Hunter bolsters the defensive line and should take some attention off of Will Anderson. Losing Denzel Perryman and Blake Cashman doesn’t help the back end, and does create potential playing time for rookies Kamari Lassiter and Calen Bullock. Overall, the Texans have quickly become an exciting team that went from bottom feeder to dark horse Super Bowl contender in no time.
Chicago Bears Betting Preview
The Chicago Bears won 7 games last season and are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The Bears enter the third year under coach Matt Eberflus. The Bears played well defensively in the second half and added weapons offensively, but the real success will come down to how quickly quarterback Caleb Williams can hit the ground running. The first overall pick, the Bears are hoping they found their first franchise quarterback since Jim McMahon.
The additions of running back D’Andre Swift and wide receiver Keenan Allen will make his life easier off the bat. For the most part, the Bears defense stays intact, and two-time Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard could actually make things even better. The NFC North is competitive, but there’s enough on this roster for the Bears to make a playoff push. Of course, that’s if Williams can live up to the hype of being the first player taken back in April.
Chicago Bears vs Houston Texans Prediction
In preseason games, I’m mainly focused on the backup quarterbacks. Which guys can I trust to move the ball in the final three quarters to put points on the board? Sorry, I have little confidence in Tyson Bagent, Brett Rypien and Austin Reed, guys who just haven’t seen the NFL field much. Behind Stroud, the Texans have vets in Davis Mills and Case Keenum, players who have combined for 92 NFL starts. That’s massive and regardless of how they performed, that experience is key. I would think Mills and Keenum could have success against second and third string defenses given their previous starting reps. We’re laying a point and a half.
Give me the Texans in Thursday’s NFL Hall of Fame Game.
