We’ve done it. We’ve made it to the final week of the preseason. This is the third time both the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans will suit up before the real games start, meaning we’ll get most of the starters out for at least the first half of this one. With that, we should have an easier time handicapping this game and figuring out what both teams will look like, with a lot of the mystery gone.
With arguably the better roster, and one of the best preseasons in all of football, the Titans are still slim underdogs to the Bears. How much is truly between these teams? Can we pick out a winner here, or should we target the total? Without further ado, let’s take a look into how you should be wagering over at the top-rated sportsbooks.
Saturday, August 28, 2021 – 7:00 PM EDT at Nissan Stadium
Bears fans got very excited when Matt Nagy announced rookie Justin Fields, who Chicago traded up for at No. 11 in this year’s draft, would start the Bears’ preseason finale on Friday. The thought, of course, was that this meant Fields had a leg up on fellow quarterback Andy Dalton in the positional battle. Well, Nagy threw cold water on that feeling when he subsequently named Dalton the starter for Week 1 of the regular season. While the news hurts, Fields will still play two quarters on Saturday and should be even more motivated to have a good game following the crushing news.
Along with Fields, Nagy said starting left tackle Jason Peters and starting right tackle Germain Ifedi should play with Fields, along with the rest of the starters on the offensive line. That’s great news for Fields’ development, and the Bears’ chances in this game, though it should be noted none of the skill position players will be in there.
For the Bears, the offensive line has been arguably the biggest pain point this preseason with so many injuries. Still, Chicago managed to pull off a win in its preseason opener with most of its line out, though it did get steamrolled by the Bills in the second tune-up game. Nagy and his crew will look for a solid first half here and a close result at the bare minimum.
The Tennessee Titans haven’t had any issues whatsoever this preseason, winning both games in commanding fashion. They took down the Falcons, 23-3, before handing it to the Buccaneers, 34-4. That’s right — the Titans have allowed just six points all preseason long and have been scoring early and often. That makes the thought of more Titans starters playing in this one a scary sight. That’s exactly what should happen, too.
“I think there is some merit to going out there and working a pregame routine, and getting ready to play in the game, whether that is for five or 15, however many snaps,” Mike Vrabel said to reporters at practice this week. “I think there is some merit to that, just to get yourself mentally prepared.” We should reasonably expect the first quarter to feature some of the bigger names on both side of the ball, but two that shouldn’t be out there are Julio Jones and A.J. Brown.
Both are dealing with various ailments, and while Brown is expected to be back for Week 1, Jones hasn’t even been practicing. It appears the goal here is to get both on the field for Week 1, when Jones will don a Titans uniform for the first time. It’s difficult to fade Vegas, given how many sharp lines there have been this preseason, but I’m inclined to think the Titans have a flat-out better roster in this one.
Even with Fields playing more, meaning the entire first half, Matt Barkley is a very competent backup who should play the majority of this one for Tennessee. There have been some surprisingly great performances out of little-known skill position players like Mekhi Sargent this preseason, and against a weak defense with little depth the Titans should keep on scoring in this one.
NFL Pick: Titans +2.5 (-105) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
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