Primetime Showdown: The Battle Between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears

Overview of the Contest

On a much-anticipated “Sunday Night Football” event, last season’s offensive rookie of the year, C.J. Stroud, leads the Houston Texans against this season’s favorite, Caleb Williams, and his Chicago Bears. After a 3-13-1 run in the previous season, the Texans drafted Stroud as the second overall pick in 2023, propelling them from the bottom of the AFC South to division champions. The Bears, hoping for a similar surge in fortune following a 7-10 season, are looking towards their first-year quarterback for inspiration.

Week 2 Predictions

Following a narrow victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the Texans are tipped as the favorites for Week 2 against the Bears, a team that capitalized on its defense and special teams to claim a win over the Tennessee Titans. The 2024 season is still fresh, and there’s ample opportunity for a fresh start with a 0-0 record. You can start today by setting up a league with your friends and family or join a public league.

Game Lines

Spread: Texans -6.5
Moneyline: Bears (+225), Texans (-275)
Over/Under: 45.5
First-half spread: Texans -3.5 (-115), Bears +3.5 (-105)
Bears total points: 19.5 (Over -110/Under -120)
Texans total points: 26.5 (Over -110/Under -120)

Betting Trends

“Sunday Night Football” has seen unders at 27-10 over the last three seasons. Prime-time unders are 71-44-1 during that span. The Texans have not closed as at least 6-point favorites since Week 16 of 2020 (-7.5 vs. Cincinnati Bengals). The Texans are 6-16-1 ATS as favorites since 2019. Stroud is 3-5 ATS as a favorite. The Bears are 11-17 ATS as underdogs under head coach Matt Eberflus (14-27 ATS since 2021). Since 2020, the Bears are 5-10 ATS in prime-time games.

Looking Ahead

The Texans had a balanced offensive strategy in Week 1, delivering a win against the Indianapolis Colts. The Bears, despite a lackluster passing attack, managed a win over the Tennessee Titans, thanks to their rushing defense. These factors will significantly impact this showdown.

The Texans will rely heavily on their ground game, led by Mixon, who amassed a career-high 30 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. The Bears’ defense, which surrendered 103 yards and a touchdown to the Titans’ running backs, might struggle against the Texans’ more balanced and powerful offense.

On the flip side, rookie quarterback Williams had a shaky regular-season debut. The Texans’ stronger defensive side, ranked 11th in the league, will likely prove a challenging test for Williams, who will need to make a significant leap in performance to turn the tide.

Editor’s Top Picks

Joe Mixon had a standout performance in Week 1 and is expected to replicate his success on Sunday night. Some of the betting favorites include Mixon for 70+ rushing yards (-110), Mixon for 1+ TDs (-140), and Caleb Williams for under 224.5 passing yards (-125).

Keep an Eye on

Stay tuned for more predictions, score picks for each game of NFL Week 2, the latest buzz from betting storylines, and the Fantasy injury tracker to monitor who’s in and who’s out. Also, be sure to check out the Fantasy football rankings for the 2024 season.