Bears QB Caleb Williams gets his first taste of prime time when the underdog Monsters of the Midway head to NRG Stadium for a Sunday Night Football showdown with the Texans.
Houston’s offense was electric in a 29-27 Week 1 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The Bears offense struggled in the season opener but touchdowns from the defense and special teams pushed Chicago past the Tennessee Titans, 24-17.
NFL Week 2 Bears vs. Titans odds
The opening point spread was 5, but the line quickly shifted to Texans -6. Bears bettors will find the best moneyline odds at Caesars Sportsbook (+240), while the Texans are around -300 on the moneyline.
The total was initially 40.5, which is lower than average for an NFL game. After Houston’s offensive explosion vs. Indianapolis, the over/under is now 45.5 at most sportsbooks.
Oddsmakers must expect improvement from the Bears’ offense following the poor showing in Week 1.
Why the Texans could win as the favorite
Nobody expected QB C.J. Stroud’s dominance in his rookie campaign (especially the Carolina Panthers). Any doubters calling for a sophomore slump were silenced in Week 1 thanks to Stroud’s 234 yards and two touchdowns.
The only weak point in Houston’s 2023 offense was running back, which is no longer an issue thanks to the addition of Joe Mixon. The former Cincinnati Bengals RB leads all rushers with 159 yards, the sixth-highest single-game mark in Texans history, according to StatMuse.
Houston also acquired WR Stefon Diggs, who grabbed two touchdowns in Week 1. The Texans’ offense can attack in many ways, and it’s up to Stroud to play point guard Sunday night to feed his high-level playmakers.
Defending the deep ball was troublesome vs. the Colts, considering Anthony Richardson completed nine passes for 212 yards. While few quarterbacks have Richardson’s arm strength, Houston’s defense must improve to start the year 2-0.
Why the Bears could win as the underdog
It’s difficult to project what we’ll see from Williams on Sunday Night Football. The highly-touted QB completed less than half of his Week 1 passes for 93 yards.
Williams isn’t the first rookie to perform poorly in his debut, and he’s bound to show improvement as the year progresses. Oddsmakers are predicting a better showing vs. Houston, considering DraftKings Sportsbook gives Williams -105 odds to pass for 225+ yards.
The Bears’ defense was reliable in the win over Tennessee, allowing no points in the second half. Chicago had three takeaways, including a pick-six by Tyrique Stevenson.
A similar performance is required on Sunday night while Williams continues adjusting to NFL defenses.
Wide receivers Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze landed on the injury report with leg injuries and are questionable for Week 2. Allen made his sixth Pro Bowl last season, and Odunze led NCAAF in receiving yards for the Washington Huskies.
If they can’t suit up, it’ll be even more difficult for the Bears’ offense to get in rhythm.
Bears vs. Texans prediction
As a lifelong Bears fan, it’s difficult to pick against my team, but it’s too risky to wager on Chicago. Houston is a notoriously tough place to play when the Texans are good, and this is Williams’ first road start in the NFL.
The Titans controlled the line of scrimmage on offense in the first half vs. the Bears, and Tennessee ball carriers combined for 140 yards. If Mixon provides half of his Week 1 production, it would open things up for Stroud in the passing game.
Texans WR Nico Collins also had an unbelievable performance, tallying 117 yards and 19.5 yards per catch.
