Saints-Bears Matchup Set To Be Tight In The Windy City

Quick-Hitters

• The 4-2 New Orleans Saints are undefeated within the NFC South this year, but their defense has yet to allow less than 23 points in a game. The Saints (+125) trail the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as divisional favorites, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

• The 5-2 Chicago Bears (+375) trail the Green Bay Packers as divisional favorites, per DraftKings Sportsbook.

• The Saints are favored (-180) by 3 points in the first half over the Bears (+150) with the over/under set at 21.5 points.

• New Orleans (-235) is favored by 4.5 points over Chicago (+190) with the over/under set at 43.5 total points. CLICK HERE FOR LIVE GAME ODDS!
  

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Saints' Defense Not Nearly As Dominant

Coming off a slim victory over the rival Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints will take their 4-2 record and travel to the Chicago Bears at a frigid Solider Field. Thus far on the 2020 NFL season, Drew Brees and the Saints have shown mixed results. Although the Saints are still undefeated within the NFC South and have only dropped games to solid teams (Green Bay Packers and Las Vegas Raiders), New Orleans’ offensive production has dwindled compared to previous seasons under coach Sean Payton.

An initial, easy factor to point toward would be the absence of NOLA’s all-pro wide out Mike Thomas. Only a year removed from breaking the single-season reception record, Thomas has essentially missed the entirety of the current campaign. A nagging ankle injury coupled with internal disputes has rendered Thomas useless, and he's listed as doubtful for Week 8 at Chicago.

Expect Brees to keep the passing game short and effective, utilizing rookie Marquez Callaway, Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, and ultimate utility-man, Taysom Hill. They’ll battle a talented Chicago defensive unit along with the challenging Autumn conditions of Solider Field.

New Orleans’ defense is respectable; with players like defensive end Cam Jordan and cornerback Marshon Lattimore, a takeaway can always be just a play away. With that said, through six games this season, the “Who Dat” defense has had trouble keeping points off the board; the Saints have yet to allow less than 23 points in a game. Despite that, the over/under is set at 43.5 total points for the contest.

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Chicago Offense Stabilizing?

Moving on to the home team, the Bears have enjoyed some early success this year. Coming off a loss on Monday Night Football at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago is now (5-2): good enough for second place in the NFC North. The Bears (+375) trail the Packers as divisional favorites, per DraftKings Sportsbook.

Like the Saints, the Bears have also had some inconsistencies on offense this season. After making the move earlier this year from Mitch Trubisky to veteran (and former Super Bowl MVP) Nick Foles, the offense has appeared to stabilize. With that said, Chicago wide out Allen Robinson and running back David Montgomery are legitimate weapons, but are seemingly having trouble finding their groove. However, any week could be a monster week for them. In a matchup that appears to be a cold one in the Windy City, watch for Chicago to instantiate the run-game with a heavy dose of Montgomery.

It's clear that the defense in Chicago serves as the team’s furnace. With top-tier ballhawks like Eddie Jackson and Kyle Fuller, wrecking machine linebackers Barkevious Mingo and Danny Trevathan, and a defensive line anchored by Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack, the “Monsters of the Midway” are here to bring the pressure.

For an added storyline, it's always fun when Brees and Foles go head-to-head. After all, the men share a high school alma mater. Both products of Austin’s (TX) Westlake High, you have to think a little more is on the line for these respective signal-callers.

First Half Action

The Saints are favored (-180) by 3 points in the first half over the Bears (+150) with the over/under set at 21.5 points. New Orleans has led at halftime in three of their last four games, averaging 18.0 first half points over the span. Foles is generally better in first halves, so this will be an interesting line to follow!