Chicago Bears travel to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, with pundits anticipating a fairly low-scoring affair. This is the first time these two teams have faced each other in four years. Both teams lost in their last outings, but they are also enjoying solid seasons so far, having each picked up five wins. The Titans top the AFC South, albeit by a slim margin, while the Bears are second place to Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. In 12 previous meetings, the two franchises have picked up six victories apiece, so things could be tight on Sunday.
Bears Battling Injuries in the Offensive Line
This game will see the Titans’ impressive offense go up against the Bears’ solid defense. Both teams are in two-game losing streaks after making strong starts to the season. Titans lost their last two to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, while the Bears have come unstuck against the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints.
The Bears are eighth in the NFL when it comes to defense, having conceded an average of just 20.8 points per game. In contrast, the Titans have one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL, so will be looking to their offense to produce enough points to secure victory. The signs are good that they will deliver, as Tennessee currently average 29.7 points per game. The Titans also hold an advantage when it comes to yards gained. The Titans have made an average of 406.1 yards per game compared to Chicago's 348.5. The home side averages 6.2 yards per play, while the Bears concede an average of 5.2 yards per play. The Bears’ defense has a habit of forcing turnovers, with an average of 1.1 forced per game in 2020. The Titans turn the ball over on average 0.6 times per game.
Chicago has some problems when it comes to injuries, especially in their offensive line. They could be missing four starters in the offensive line on Sunday, with left guard James Daniels out for the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle. He is joined in the treatment room by right tackle Bobby Massie, center Cody Whitehair and back-up center Sam Mustipher.
The last time the teams met was back in 2016, when the Titans won 27-21. Tennessee has won two of the last three meetings, but the Bears won three in a row prior to that.
Our Pick: Titans to win by 1-6 points
Our pick for this game is that the Titans will win a close game by a narrow margin. Odds of +325 on them winning by a margin of between one and six points from 888 look very tempting. This game comes down to a clash between a miserly Chicago defense and a potent Tennessee offense. We think that the Titans will win that particular battle, but not by much. The Bears’ lack of ability to score points will cost them, as their average score of 20.1 points per game is the fifth worst in the NFL.
Our pick: Titans win by 1-6 points @ +325 with 888Sport
