Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will miss his first game since joining the team four years ago. The way he’s been playing, Chicago would rather face him than backup Brock Osweiler. The Bears continued their surprising surge handling the Rams feared defense last week and can make things interesting in the NFC with a win to reach the .500 mark.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chicago Bears -1
Denver Broncos +1
Over/Under 41
ODDS ANALYSIS
John Fox won four AFC West titles in his tenure with the Broncos but was discarded after the team lost at home in the divisional round last season. Nobody knows them better than Fox, and he has plenty of motivation to beat his former club. The line was wagered to -1.5 and the Bears have been a good bet lately going 5-1 ATS in their last six.
KEY INJURIES
Peyton Manning – Will sit out this week after the Broncos’ quarterback had a dismal performance against Kansas City. It was reported that Manning is dealing with a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot. Brock Osweiler will start in his place with Trevor Siemian as the backup.
Emmanuel Sanders – Left the Chiefs game with a head injury and passed the concussion protocol. He was held out for the remainder for precautionary reasons. He is questionable to play Sunday.
Pernell McPhee – Chicago’s top defender from his linebacker spot missed last week’s game and is questionable due to a knee injury. The Bears welcomed back linebacker Shea McClellin last week after he missed three games due to injury.
KEY MISMATCH
Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler has thrived under the tutelage of coordinator Adam Gase, and the offense has been efficient while missing several key components for long stretches of the season. Cutler’s 151 passer rating in a win over the Rams last week looked like something Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady would produce. He did it without receiver Eddie Royal, who was out with an injury, and with Alshon Jeffery limited by a groin injury. Cutler’s accuracy in terms of putting the ball where receivers could get it without breaking stride on short passes led directly to the touchdown passes of 87 and 83 yards. The offensive line and blitz pick-up from Jeremy Langford was outstanding, allowing only two sacks to a team that came in with 27 on the season. The Bears became the first in the NFL with two pass plays longer than 80 yards in a game since 2006 and had their biggest point output of the season against a Rams defense regarded among the league’s best.
KEY STAT
32.0 – Denver’s NFL leading quarterback sack total. Chicago’s done a nice job protecting the quarterback surrendering just 16 sacks on the year.
BETTING ANGLE
John Fox won a division title in Denver and reached the playoffs with Tim Tebow as his quarterback prior to the arrival of Manning. But team president John Elway decided he wasn’t going to get it done after losing a division round playoff game at home for the second time in three years. Fox was let go in favor of Elway’s former backup and roommate Gary Kubiak. No matter what Fox says over what he’s already been asked about the Denver Divorce, it’s hard to believe he, Adam Gase, and six other assistants who came over with him from the Broncos wouldn’t especially love to win a third straight game, and reach .500, at the expense of the man who administered the pink slips, due to a “better” alternative.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The knock against Cutler was pressure forces him into costly mistakes. The Bears quarterback has done a nice job of eliminating that this season. Against the vaunted Rams D, Cutler was sharp completing 79.2 percent of his attempts for 258 yards and three scores without a pick. He was sacked just twice in 26 dropbacks. After leading the league with 24 turnovers last season, Cutler has just five interceptions and two fumbles lost. His success has translated to the Bears efficiency on offense. Chicago will face another stout defense with the Broncos strength at linebacker. They lead the NFL in sacks and will try to fluster Cutler into some ill-advised throws by mixing blitz packages and coverage. With his top two receivers hurting, Cutler has used tight ends Martellus Bennett and Zach Miller in intermediate routes to avoid heavy pressure. A similar plan will be helpful against the Broncos. Fox and his assistants are quite familiar with Denver’s personnel and his motivation is obvious. The Bears use that to take down the Broncos in Osweiler’s first career start.
Chicago 24, Denver 20
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