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I’ve been saying for most of the season that the Bears have to be one of the best stories in the NFL this season. Not just because I am a fan, but because you go from 5-12 to (currently) 11-4 and a shot at the #1 overall seed in the NFC.
I feel like the 49ers are always hanging around the top of the NFC, and since their offense is, for the most part, healthy, they too have a shot at the 1 seed in the NFC. Both teams have made the playoffs already, and both teams can win their division through their own paths.
Let’s dive into what I, and a lot of analysts around the country, think will be one of the more entertaining games this week.
The last time I took a running back expecting to gash this Bears defense, it was Saquon Barkley, and the Bears shut him down. So, as a fan, taking McCaffrey in hopes that Chicago shuts him down is the play, right?
Seems logical. This has to be one of the longest stretches I can remember in recent history that McCaffrey is healthy, and he’s playing at an incredibly high level in this Kyle Shanahan offense. There’s only one stat to me here that matters.
This over/under number is 16 yards below his average. If this game goes how I think it’s going to go, CMC is going to get a ton of opportunities in the screen game. That all counts towards this total.
I’m fairly certain the entire country has seen the pass he made to DJ Moore to beat the Packers last week. You have to imagine the confidence after that is sky high. Now, credit where it’s due. Robert Salah has done an amazing job with this defense, considering the injuries sustained throughout the season, but this defense is still battered.
Caleb will be getting at least one of his weapons back this week in Luther Burden, and the chemistry that fans in Chicago have longed for with DJ Moore has started to bloom. Two reasons I like this play. The total is 5 yards under his season average.
If Caleb is going to chase any sort of personal glory, he needs 300 yards in each of the last two weeks of the season to be Chicago’s first ever 4k yard passer. I want to see it, so yeah, give me the over.
This is a first for me. Taking a damn kicker. However, when you see what Santos did last week on a windy night in Chicago, and you’re looking for some value, you get it. Santos’ average PPG is at 8.2, so while it’s not hugely under his average, it’s still under.
This game will be high scoring, and should there be one or two mishaps in FG range, combined with the extra points from the touchdowns, Santos should be able to eclipse this at least by 2 points.
Double dip on the game prediction here. I don’t think there’s any universe where this game goes for under 52.5 points. This has the potential to be back and forth all game with TD after TD. Both defenses give up a ton of yards and, seemingly, a good amount of points.
In games they’ve won this year, Chicago averages 27.2 PPG, and as I've been saying for the better part of this season, this team loves to win last-possession games. If I ever leave this world, I'm going back to school to be a cardiologist and opening an office near whatever new stadium the team builds.
SF’s defense allows fewer points than the Bears at 21.3, but in 5 games against other likely playoff teams, they’re allowing 29.6 points. Again, this game should be a shootout, and if you like offense, make sure you tune in. Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and Bear Down baby.