Bears vs. Chiefs Preseason Finale Predictions: NFL Betting Picks

NFL Preseason – Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs

Where: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO)

When: Thursday August 22 at 8:20 PM EST

Watch: NFL Network

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This Thursday night matchup will be the final preseason game for both the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs. The Bears come into this game with a perfect 3-0 preseason record, while the Chiefs have dropped both on their schedule and find themselves 0-2. The records will be wiped clean after this week as the regular season start is close on the horizon, but there will still be valuable snaps played in this contest. This is the last opportunity for coaches to assess their rosters and determine what the starting lineups will look like on week 1. With a majority of the starting spots locked-in, this game should feature a combination of rookies looking to stick on the 52-man roster or practice squad, and veteran depth pieces attempting to justify their salary cap number. The cuts are coming next week, so it will be important for players on the bubble to bring their best effort yet.

The Bears have been one of the more disappointing franchises over the last decade, but things may finally be looking up in the Windy City. Chicago drafted their signal caller of the future with the first overall pick in USC Quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams is one of the most heralded prospects coming out of college and has a chance to right the ship and bring the Bears franchise back to relevance. Williams will be the starter beginning in Week 1, and ownership and management have done a tremendous job of surrounding him with the talent he needs to succeed. A receiving core composed of Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and Rome Odunze is poised to strike fear in all opposing defenses. Chicago also brought in D’Andre Swift to bolster the backfield, coming off a career year in Philadelphia. There is certainly no lack of playmaking talent across this offense, but success will ultimately come down to the performance of the offensive line. Nothing is more harmful to a rookie quarterback than a lack of time in the pocket, but with his elite scrambling and play-lengthening abilities, Williams’ improvisation could be a saving grace. On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears look to build on their momentum from the 2023 campaign. Featuring veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, his presence gives the Bears a seasoned signal caller who has tallied over 100 tackles in every season since joining the league. Their secondary is young and talented, and the addition of Kevin Byard only strengthens the unit. Chicago’s well-rounded roster gives them a great chance to compete in the NFC North in 2024 and beyond.

On the other side of the field, the Kansas City Chiefs come off their second straight championship season, after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. The expectations in 2024 are no different. All eyes in Kansas City are focused on hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for a third straight year, and if there is any team in the league that can achieve this lofty goal, it’s Andy Reid’s squad. The Chiefs once again have the best betting odds to win it all. An offense highlighted by Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Isiah Pacheco has demonstrated a balanced offensive playstyle that can lean on the pass or the run depending on the situation. The receiving core has immense upside potential and features the second season for Rashee Rice, along with the additions of Hollywood Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy. The main struggle for Kansas City last year was consistent play from this group, but with a safety blanket in Travis Kelce, they always find a way to move the ball. The defensive unit on paper may not look all that formidable, but under play-caller Steve Spagnuolo, the scheme trumps individual talent. The defense always finds a way to get to the opposing quarterback utilizing strategic blitz packages and disguised coverages. Losing L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans leaves some question marks surrounding the secondary, but I expect them to rely on the play of their defensive line to take the pressure off. The Chiefs will find themselves atop the AFC come season’s end and they have a real chance to cement themselves in NFL history as a true dynasty. If Patrick Mahomes is on the field, the Chiefs always have a chance.

My Pick: Total Over 32 (-110)

Patrick Mahomes and Caleb Williams will not be playing in the preseason finale on Thursday night. They are both the clear-cut starters for their respective teams and the risk of injury does not outweigh the chance to get some last-minute game reps prior to the start of the regular season. However, the Bears and Chiefs rosters both showcase quarterback groups with starting experience. I expect Tyson Bagent and Carson Wentz to handle the majority of the workload in this matchup, and their serviceable play should be enough to hit above the number. The offensive skill groups on both sides have depth, so even as the playtime is allocated to the bottom of the depth chart, I lean toward offensive production. Look for the speedy young receivers to outwork the opposition’s secondary and for the running backs to keep drives advancing downfield. The Bears have averaged 27 points per game across their preseason games, and I don’t expect the Chiefs to buck that trend in a meaningless game.