Buffalo Bills vs Chicago Bears (12/24/22): Betting Odds, Prediction, Depth Chart

The Bills travel to Chicago and will face the Bears this Christmas Eve. While both teams share an offense centered around their dual threat QB, they are going in opposite directions in almost every other sense. Do the 3-11 Bears have any chance at pulling off the upset over the 11-3 Bills? Let’s take a closer look.

Buffalo Bills Vs. Chicago Bears Betting Odds

The Bills are -8.5 favorites over the Bears despite playing on the road. The over/under line started at 43 but has since moved down to 39.5 amid news of an impending blizzard in Chicago. Despite leaving Orchard Park, the Bills will not be escaping the blizzard weather as snow and heavy winds are very possible for this Saturday in Chicago.

Buffalo Bills Vs. Chicago Bears Prediction

The Bills come into Chicago atop the AFC and with a chance to clinch the AFC East with a win. They held off the Dolphins last Saturday and are only a half game above the Chiefs for the #1 seed. They’ll likely need every win, so don’t expect them to come in sleeping. The Bills once again have relied on QB Josh Allen to carry the offense and team, which he has done leading the team to the #2 offense. Look for Allen to take advantage of the Bears with his legs, after the Bears gave up 3 rushing touchdowns to QB Jalen Hurts last weekend. If the Bears defense leaves open holes like this, Allen could easily match Hurt’s numbers.

Don’t blink#PHIvsCHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/jX0KQ6cEtf

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 18, 2022

Meanwhile the Bears are coasting on a 7 game losing streak. Though QB Justin Fields keeps them entertaining and competitive, their lack of overall talent keeps their opponents in the win column. However, the Bears almost upset the Eagles, losing by only 5 points and keeping the game close until the 4th quarter. The Bears will hope to cause a second straight scare versus the Bills this week. This may be tough without a strong pass rush after the Bears traded away two of their top front 7 players. The Bears have put up the fewest sacks on the season, sacking opponents only 17 total times. This will not hold up well against the elusive Josh Allen.

I am easily taking the Bills to win this matchup. The Bears managed to cover the spread versus the Eagles and give them a scare, but it’s not common for teams to thread the needle.

Prediction: Bills 27-14, Over hits

Betting Trends

Bills are 11-3-2 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Bears are 9-19 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

Key Injuries

Buffalo Bills Injuries:
Jamison Crowder (Q), Jordan Poyer (Q), Josh Allen (Q), Matt Milano (Q), Rodger Saffold (Q), Ryan Bates (Q), Jordan Phillips (Q), Boogie Basham Jr. (Q), Mitch Morse (Q), Jake Kumerow (Q)

Chicago Bears Injuries: Cody Whitehair (Q), Kindle Vildor (Q), Riley Reiff (Q), Khalil Herbert (Q), Justin Jones (Q), Chase Claypool (Q), Andre Anthony (Q), Equanimeous St. Brown (Q),
Christian Albright (Q), Teven Jenkins (Q), Tavon Young (Q)

Check out the key matchups and mismatches for Bills vs Bears team below.

The Bills Pass Offense vs Bears Pass Defense

A big reason the Bears hung in the game versus the Eagles was the two turnovers they snagged from QB Jalen Hurts. Young Bears CBs Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson have shown promise and each had their best game of the season up against a touch WR duo of A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. Gordon had an interception and fumble recovery in the game while Johnson had three pass defenses. They will need to repeat this performance versus Stefon Diggs and the rest of the Bills wideouts. Diggs and Allen have led the Bills 5th best pass offense, but in recent games WR Gabriel Davis has failed to establish himself as the solid #2 receiver Bills fans hoped for. Look for Allen to target TE Dawson Knox if the Bears crowd Diggs and Davis can’t make plays.

DAWSON. KNOX.

📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/9r2aS8g7Wa

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 18, 2022

Justin Fields vs Bills Defense

It’s tempting to say that a great performance from Fields could lead to an upset, but Fields has been piling up out of this world games for the 2nd half of the season and none of them have led to wins. Still, we must admire what Fields has accomplished. Fields became the third QB to reach 1,000 rushing yards on the season Sunday and leads the NFL at 7 yards per carry.

After three pic.twitter.com/CYmljZKKfx

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 18, 2022

So long as he can limit hits going forward, his game breaking runs are the silver lining for Bears fans going into the offseason. The Bills will have their speedy LB duo of Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds trying to chase Fields down, but be weary after the Bills gave up 132 yards to Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert and the Dolphins 6th worst rushing offense.

Buffalo Bills Depth Chart

QB: Josh Allen
RB1: Devin Singletary
RB2: James Cook
LWR: Gabriel Davis
RWR: Stefon Diggs
SWR: Isaiah McKenzie
TE1: Dawson Knox

Chicago Bears Depth Chart

QB: Justin Fields
RB1: David Montgomery
RB2: Khalil Herbert
WR1: Darnell Mooney
WR2: Byron Pringle
WR3: Equanimeous St. Brown
TE1: Cole Kmet