Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 25th 2022
Ben Miller
With an 0-1-1 record, it’s no shock that the Houston Texans come into this game as underdogs. This season hasn’t begun well for the Texans and it’s likely to not get much better. After a 16-9 loss to the Denver Broncos, the Texans are out on the road again in week 3. This is their second straight road game and they head into hostile territory to face the Chicago Bears.
The Bears have a 1-1 record to start the season after last week’s 27-10 loss. They faced the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, a terribly tough team to beat. This week they’ll host the Houston Texans, a much more favorable match-up. Quarterback Justin Fields is hoping to have a similar outing to week 1. The question is, can they rally back from their week 2 loss?
Texans vs. Bears Betting Odds
TV: CBS
MONEY LINE: Texans (+122) vs. Bears (-142)
SPREAD: Texans +2.5 (+100) vs. Bears -2.5 (-120)
GAME TOTAL: Over 40.5 (-105) vs. Under 40.5 (-115)
Texans vs. Bears Preview (NFL Week 3)
This season, the Houston Texans already rank among the worst offenses in the NFL. Averaging only 78.5 rushing yards per game, they rank 27th overall in the category. If they want any chance at winning this week, they’ll need to establish the running game early.
Establishing the running game will also help them control the clock. By keeping the Bears offense off of the field, they’ll increase their chances of winning. In terms of passing, the Texans rank 24th in the league with 188.0 yards per game. They might as well focus on running the ball.
Davis Mills has thrown for 417 yards and two touchdowns over the course of two games. Since they aren’t a passing or high-scoring team, they’ll need to focus on defense. They’ve allowed only 18 points per game, which is great, but they haven’t faced strong offenses.
The Chicago Bears might not be the Buffalo Bills, but they aren’t an awful team. They started the season with a 19-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers, a pretty strong team. Justin Fields has thrown for only 191 yards through two games; this is what concerns us the most.
The Bears passing game is essentially non-existent, averaging only 76.5 yards per game. They rank last in this category but rank eighth overall in running yards per game (139.5). Although they’re definitely a stronger rushing team, they need to quickly establish a passing game.
They’ve done pretty well on defense over the first two games of the year. Allowing an average of 18.5 points per game, they’re nearly identical to the Texans. The only difference is they’ve faced much tougher offenses. Perhaps the best news is that they only need to cover 2.5 points.
Texans vs. Bears Picks
We haven’t seen anything from the Texans that would convince us to take them here. Averaging 14.5 points per game has them ranked as one of the worst scoring teams in the league. They’re not favored by a lot of points either; a field goal from the Bears could cover. Perhaps if the spread was larger, we’d think about it, but it’s only 2.5 points.
Chicago had a great game against the 49ers in week 1. Although they lost the following week, it’s important to remember they played Green Bay in Wisconsin. Because of this, we’re going to take the Bears at home over the Texans.
Final Score: 20-10 (Bears)
EXTRA POINTS
1. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games against Houston.
2. Chicago has gone 4-1 against the spread in their last five games as a favorite.
3. These two last played in December of 2020 and the Bears won 36-7.
Best Bet: Chicago Bears -2.5 (-120) and Under 40.5 (-115)
Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears Recap SEP 25TH 2022
Cairo Santos kicked a game-winning 30-yard field goal as time expired, and Khalil Herbert rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns to boost the Chicago Bears to a 23-20 victory against the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon.
A Roquan Smith interception of Texans quarterback Davis Mills with 1:05 to play set Chicago up at the Houston 12-yard line. Smith had 16 tackles, including two for loss, to go with his interception.
Chicago (2-1) ran for 281 yards while limiting Houston to 92 yards on the ground. Mills was 20-for-32 passing for 245 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked a pair of field goals for the Texans, while Santos had three.
While his mobility served him in the running game, where he gained 47 yards on eight carries, Bears quarterback Justin Fields struggled in the pocket, finishing 8-for-17 passing for 106 yards and two interceptions.
Fairbairn connected on a 39-yard field goal with 11:25 remaining in the third quarter to give the Texans a 17-13 lead. Chicago answered three minutes later, as Herbert scored from one yard out and put the Bears on top 20-17.
Houston tied the game at 20 in the final minute of the third with a 23-yard Fairbairn field goal.
Houston coach Lovie Smith, who guided the Bears from 2004-2012, remained winless against his former team in three tries. Smith was 81-63 in nine seasons in Chicago and led the Bears to a Super Bowl appearance following the 2006 season.
Bears running back David Montgomery exited the game midway through the first quarter with injuries to his right knee and leg. Montgomery was hurt during a pass play that resulted in offsetting penalties. Wide receiver Byron Pringle (calf) left the game in the first quarter, as well.
The Texans took a 14-13 lead into the locker room. The home crowd booed the Bears as they jogged off the field, unhappy about the decision to let the clock run out with all three timeouts remaining.
--Field Level Media