We may get a first look at Bears rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams on Saturday when Chicago plays at Buffalo in Week 1 of the preseason.
The Bears are 3-point favourites on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Bears and Bills franchises have little in common over the past five seasons. Chicago hasn’t finished with a winning record in any of them with one quick playoff berth in 2020. Buffalo has won double-digit games in each of those seasons and reached the playoffs in all but just one AFC title game in that span as the Bills usually run into and lose to Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City in the postseason.
Thus the one thing I think the franchises do have in common entering 2024 is that neither head coach will be back in 2025 without some success. For Chicago’s Matt Eberflus, that probably simply means a winning record and wild-card contention. For Buffalo’s Sean McDermott, it likely means at least a trip to the AFC title game, but another playoff loss to the Chiefs might end his tenure regardless.
The last regular season meeting between the teams was Christmas Eve 2022 in Chicago, and the Bills rolled 35-13 as QB Josh Allen threw for two scores and rushed for one. The Bears’ primary QB that game was Justin Fields, but he’s now with Pittsburgh.
Chicago Bears
Chicago “won” its preseason opener but most sportsbooks voided all bets because the Bears’ 21-17 victory last Thursday in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, was called with 3:31 left in the third quarter due to lightning and heavy rain. Bears third-string quarterback Brett Rypien was excellent in relief of second-stringer and starter Tyson Bagent, going 11-for-15 for 166 yards and three touchdowns. No Bears starters played in the game, and Coach Matt Eberflus said his decision on whether to start rookie QB Caleb Williams on Saturday will be based on the general health of the team, and in particular the offensive line. Right tackle Darnell Wright, right guard Nate Davis and left guard Teven Jenkins are all dealing with minor injuries.
Eberflus previously had said he wanted Williams to get somewhere between 45-55 preseason snaps and usually starters don’t play in the final exhibition game, so I expect to see Williams here even if only a series or two. Most Bears starters are locked in for the regular season other than at centre between Ryan Bates and Coleman Shelton. There is a battle for the No. 2 running back behind free-agent addition D’Andre Swift between Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert, with Herbert looking much better against the Texans with 35 yards on four carries. Eberflus is 5-2 straight up in the preseason as Chicago’s coach.
Buffalo Bills
Will we see Buffalo’s starters in their preseason opener? That hasn’t been officially announced yet, but star QB Josh Allen and most starters didn’t play in the opener last year. I tend to doubt Allen plays here, although he does have a fair amount of receivers to get used to after the team traded away Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs to Houston this offseason. We should see rookie second-round receiver Keon Coleman, who could be Diggs’ long-term replacement. It likely will be former Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and third-stringer Shane Buechele taking most of the snaps here.
Probably the biggest position battle on the Bills is at safety after the team said goodbye to seven-year starters Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer this offseason. Damar Hamlin, Mike Edwards and rookie Cole Bishop were early contenders, but Edwards and Bishop are both week-to-week with injuries. Sean McDermott is 14-7 in the preseason as Buffalo’s coach.
NFL Preseason Prediction – Who Will Win Bears vs. Bills?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 2 Aug 10:13pm | BUF | -1.5 -110 | O +37.5 -110 |
| Closing 10 Aug 8:04pm | BUF | -26.5 -900 | U +32.5 -150 |
- Regular Season
Bears Team Leaders
| Touchdowns |
1 |
| Rushing |
30 |
| Passing |
93 |
| Receiving |
5 |
| Sacks |
2 |
| Interceptions |
1 |
| Touchdowns |
1 |
| Rushing |
71 |
| Passing |
232 |
| Receiving |
4 |
| Sacks |
3 |
| Interceptions |
0 |
- Regular Season
Bills Team Leaders
| Touchdowns |
1 |
| Rushing |
30 |
| Passing |
93 |
| Receiving |
5 |
| Sacks |
2 |
| Interceptions |
1 |
| Touchdowns |
1 |
| Rushing |
71 |
| Passing |
232 |
| Receiving |
4 |
| Sacks |
3 |
| Interceptions |
0 |
Weather
| temp | 71 |
| condition | sunny |
| wind | Southwest 16mph |
Injuries
Keenan Allen (WR)
Kiran Amegadjie (OL)
Ryan Bates (OL)
Khari Blasingame (FB)
DeMarcus Walker (DL)
Rome Odunze (WR)
Roschon Johnson (RB)
Zacch Pickens (DL)
Darrell Taylor (DL)
Dante Pettis (WR)
Javon Solomon (DE)
Josh Allen (QB)
Tommy Doyle (OT)
Ty Johnson (RB)
Dawuane Smoot (DE)
Cole Bishop (S)
Will Clapp (G)
Travis Clayton (OT)
Mike Edwards (S)
Darrynton Evans (RB)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keenan Allen (WR) | Que Sun | Heel - 11 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Allen is dealing with a heel injury, and it is undetermined if he will play Sunday against the Texans. |
|||||
| Kiran Amegadjie (OL) | Ques Sun | Quadricep - 11 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Amegadjie is dealing with a quadricep injury, and it is unclear if he will play in Sunday's contest versus the Texans. |
|||||
| Ryan Bates (OL) | Ques Sun | Shoulder - 11 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Bates is fighting off a shoulder injury, and it is uncertain if he will partake in Sunday's contest versus the Texans. |
|||||
| Khari Blasingame (FB) | Ques Sun | Hand - 11 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Blasingame is laid up with a hand injury, and it is unknown if he will participate in Sunday's game against the Texans. |
|||||
| DeMarcus Walker (DL) | Ques Sun | Foot - 11 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Walker is managing a foot injury, and it is uncertain if he will be active for Sunday's clash versus the Texans. |
|||||
| Rome Odunze (WR) | Que Sun | Knee - 09 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Odunze is dealing with a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will play Sunday against the Texans. |
|||||
| Roschon Johnson (RB) | Out Sun | Toe - 08 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Johnson is dealing with toe injury, and he is not expected to play Sunday against the Titans. |
|||||
| Zacch Pickens (DL) | Que Sun | Groin - 06 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Pickens is nursing a groin injury, and it is uncertain if he will play Sunday against the Texans. |
|||||
| Darrell Taylor (DL) | Que Sun | Foot - 06 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Taylor is nursing a foot injury, and it has yet to be determined be a participant against the Titans on Sunday. |
|||||
| Dante Pettis (WR) | Early Feb | Undisclosed - 05 / 09 / 24 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Pettis is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and he has hopes of returning to action in early February. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javon Solomon (DE) | Que Thur | Oblique - 11 / 09 / 24 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Solomon is dealing with an oblique injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Dolphins on Thursday. |
|||||
| Josh Allen (QB) | Prob Thurs | Hand - 09 / 09 / 24 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Allen left the last game with a left hand injury, but is expected to face the Dolphins on Thursday. |
|||||
| Tommy Doyle (OT) | Out indefinitely | Knee - 09 / 09 / 24 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Doyle is nursing a knee injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will return to action. |
|||||
| Ty Johnson (RB) | Ques Thurs | Knee - 08 / 09 / 24 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Johnson exited Sunday's game against the Cardinals due to a knee injury, and his status against the Dolphins on Thursday is uncertain. |
|||||
| Dawuane Smoot (DE) | Out Thurs | Toe - 06 / 09 / 24 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Smoot is out of action due to a toe injury, and he will not play against the Dolphins on Thursday |
|||||
| Cole Bishop (S) | Que Thur | Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Bishop is laid up with shoulder injury, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Dolphins on Thursday. |
|||||
| Will Clapp (G) | Ques Sept 8 | Concussion - 27 / 08 / 24 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Clapp is out of action due to a concussion, and it is unclear if he will suit up to face the Cardinals on September 8th. |
|||||
| Travis Clayton (OT) | Out indefinitely | Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Clayton is hampered by a shoulder injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will return to action. |
|||||
| Mike Edwards (S) | Ques Sept 8 | Hamstring - 27 / 08 / 24 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Edwards is battling a hamstring injury, and it is unknown if he will dress against the Cardinals on September 8th. |
|||||
| Darrynton Evans (RB) | Mid Oct | Hamstring - 27 / 08 / 24 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Evans is bothered by a hamstring injury, and he is expected to be sidelined until mid October. |
|||||
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 2 Aug 10:13pm BUF -1.5 -110 O +37.5 -110 Closing 10 Aug 8:04pm BUF -26.5 -900 U +32.5 -150 -
- Regular Season
Bears Team Leaders
Touchdowns 1
Rushing 30
Passing 93
Receiving 5
Sacks 2
Interceptions 1
Touchdowns 1
Rushing 71
Passing 232
Receiving 4
Sacks 3
Interceptions 0
-
- Regular Season
Bills Team Leaders
Touchdowns 1
Rushing 30
Passing 93
Receiving 5
Sacks 2
Interceptions 1
Touchdowns 1
Rushing 71
Passing 232
Receiving 4
Sacks 3
Interceptions 0
-
Weather
temp 71 condition sunny wind Southwest 16mph -
Injuries
Keenan Allen (WR)
Que Sun Heel - 11 / 09 / 24Kiran Amegadjie (OL)
Ques Sun Quadricep - 11 / 09 / 24Ryan Bates (OL)
Ques Sun Shoulder - 11 / 09 / 24Khari Blasingame (FB)
Ques Sun Hand - 11 / 09 / 24DeMarcus Walker (DL)
Ques Sun Foot - 11 / 09 / 24Rome Odunze (WR)
Que Sun Knee - 09 / 09 / 24Roschon Johnson (RB)
Out Sun Toe - 08 / 09 / 24Zacch Pickens (DL)
Que Sun Groin - 06 / 09 / 24Darrell Taylor (DL)
Que Sun Foot - 06 / 09 / 24Dante Pettis (WR)
Early Feb Undisclosed - 05 / 09 / 24Javon Solomon (DE)
Que Thur Oblique - 11 / 09 / 24Josh Allen (QB)
Prob Thurs Hand - 09 / 09 / 24Tommy Doyle (OT)
Out indefinitely Knee - 09 / 09 / 24Ty Johnson (RB)
Ques Thurs Knee - 08 / 09 / 24Dawuane Smoot (DE)
Out Thurs Toe - 06 / 09 / 24Cole Bishop (S)
Que Thur Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24Will Clapp (G)
Ques Sept 8 Concussion - 27 / 08 / 24Travis Clayton (OT)
Out indefinitely Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24Mike Edwards (S)
Ques Sept 8 Hamstring - 27 / 08 / 24Darrynton Evans (RB)
Mid Oct Hamstring - 27 / 08 / 24Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Keenan Allen (WR) Que Sun Heel - 11 / 09 / 24 2-0 2-0 + - Allen is dealing with a heel injury, and it is undetermined if he will play Sunday against the Texans.
Kiran Amegadjie (OL) Ques Sun Quadricep - 11 / 09 / 24 2-0 2-0 + - Amegadjie is dealing with a quadricep injury, and it is unclear if he will play in Sunday's contest versus the Texans.
Ryan Bates (OL) Ques Sun Shoulder - 11 / 09 / 24 2-0 2-0 + - Bates is fighting off a shoulder injury, and it is uncertain if he will partake in Sunday's contest versus the Texans.
Khari Blasingame (FB) Ques Sun Hand - 11 / 09 / 24 2-0 2-0 + - Blasingame is laid up with a hand injury, and it is unknown if he will participate in Sunday's game against the Texans.
DeMarcus Walker (DL) Ques Sun Foot - 11 / 09 / 24 2-0 2-0 + - Walker is managing a foot injury, and it is uncertain if he will be active for Sunday's clash versus the Texans.
Rome Odunze (WR) Que Sun Knee - 09 / 09 / 24 2-0 2-0 + - Odunze is dealing with a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will play Sunday against the Texans.
Roschon Johnson (RB) Out Sun Toe - 08 / 09 / 24 2-0 2-0 + - Johnson is dealing with toe injury, and he is not expected to play Sunday against the Titans.
Zacch Pickens (DL) Que Sun Groin - 06 / 09 / 24 2-0 2-0 + - Pickens is nursing a groin injury, and it is uncertain if he will play Sunday against the Texans.
Darrell Taylor (DL) Que Sun Foot - 06 / 09 / 24 2-0 2-0 + - Taylor is nursing a foot injury, and it has yet to be determined be a participant against the Titans on Sunday.
Dante Pettis (WR) Early Feb Undisclosed - 05 / 09 / 24 2-0 2-0 + - Pettis is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and he has hopes of returning to action in early February.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Javon Solomon (DE) Que Thur Oblique - 11 / 09 / 24 1-0 0-1 + - Solomon is dealing with an oblique injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Dolphins on Thursday.
Josh Allen (QB) Prob Thurs Hand - 09 / 09 / 24 1-0 0-1 + - Allen left the last game with a left hand injury, but is expected to face the Dolphins on Thursday.
Tommy Doyle (OT) Out indefinitely Knee - 09 / 09 / 24 1-0 0-1 + - Doyle is nursing a knee injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will return to action.
Ty Johnson (RB) Ques Thurs Knee - 08 / 09 / 24 1-0 0-1 + - Johnson exited Sunday's game against the Cardinals due to a knee injury, and his status against the Dolphins on Thursday is uncertain.
Dawuane Smoot (DE) Out Thurs Toe - 06 / 09 / 24 1-0 0-1 + - Smoot is out of action due to a toe injury, and he will not play against the Dolphins on Thursday
Cole Bishop (S) Que Thur Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24 1-0 0-1 + - Bishop is laid up with shoulder injury, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Dolphins on Thursday.
Will Clapp (G) Ques Sept 8 Concussion - 27 / 08 / 24 1-0 0-1 + - Clapp is out of action due to a concussion, and it is unclear if he will suit up to face the Cardinals on September 8th.
Travis Clayton (OT) Out indefinitely Shoulder - 27 / 08 / 24 1-0 0-1 + - Clayton is hampered by a shoulder injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will return to action.
Mike Edwards (S) Ques Sept 8 Hamstring - 27 / 08 / 24 1-0 0-1 + - Edwards is battling a hamstring injury, and it is unknown if he will dress against the Cardinals on September 8th.
Darrynton Evans (RB) Mid Oct Hamstring - 27 / 08 / 24 1-0 0-1 + - Evans is bothered by a hamstring injury, and he is expected to be sidelined until mid October.