Texans vs. Bears 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Game Best Bet: Houston Can Prevail in Close Contest

A Historic Encounter

This will be the Texans’ second appearance in the Hall of Fame Game. Their last participation was in 2002, their inaugural NFL season as an expansion team. In that game, they were defeated 34-17 by the Giants.

For the Bears, this marks their seventh appearance in the Hall of Fame Game. The last time Chicago played in this game was in 2018 when they narrowly lost 17-16 to Baltimore.

The NFL often chooses teams with notable players set for enshrinement, which is the case this year, as Texans legend Andre Johnson and Bears great Devin Hester are both being inducted.

Will Caleb Williams Play?

Chicago selected quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and there’s a chance he might take his first snaps as a Bear in Canton.

However, it’s not certain that Williams will play in the game. Teams have become increasingly cautious about playing their starters, especially quarterbacks, in preseason games. The Bears might decide not to risk Williams getting injured in an exhibition game.

Similarly, the Texans might bench franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud. Yet, Stroud did play early in Houston’s preseason opener against New England last year as a rookie, so we will have to wait and see what the Texans decide.

A Tale of Two Teams on the Rise

Chicago is one of the more intriguing teams going into the season. The Bears showed improvement toward the end of last year, driven by a strong defense. Head coach Matt Eberflus and his team will look to utilize their new offensive talents, including rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, to continue their transformation ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

Houston, on the other hand, is an example of a quick turnaround. The Texans went from one of the league’s worst teams in 2022 to division champions and playoff contenders in 2023, led by Stroud and his unreal season. Head coach DeMeco Ryans’ team aims to build on that success after strengthening their roster in the offseason.

The Pick

Predicting the outcome of preseason games is challenging as each coach has different goals for their players. Both Eberflus and Ryans used their starters for one possession in last year’s preseason opener, which might give us an idea of their plans for this game.

Houston has more experience overall, particularly on offense. Quarterbacks Davis Mills and Case Keenum, who will likely see most of the playing time, have significant NFL experience. This isn’t the case for Chicago’s Tyson Bagent and Brett Rypien.

Chicago, however, is deeper at the running back position. The Bears could have an edge over the Texans in a preseason setting with players like Roschon Johnson and Travis Homer.

In recent years, Houston has been unexpectedly strong in the preseason. This surprising trend, along with their depth and determination, makes me favor the Texans as the underdogs in this matchup.

NFL Pick: Texans ML (+105) at Heritage Sports

Texans ML (+105)

Visit Site

*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.