Aug 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent (17) celebrates his touchdown pass and catch by wide receiver Dante Pettis (81) against the Cincinnati Bengals during the third quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports
- The Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs will end their preseasons Thursday night on NFL Network.
- Neither the Bears nor Chiefs are expected to play starters for their final preseason tilt.
- Keep scrolling for a further look at the latest odds, best picks and a prediction for Thursday’s AFC matchup.
The Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs are set to face off Thursday night at 8:20 on NFL Network. The Bears (3-0) are fresh off a dominant 27-3 win over the Bengals while Kansas City (0-2) is still searching for its first preseason win.
Neither team is expected to play starters, so we’ll have to wait to see a Caleb Williams vs. Patrick Mahomes matchup. Instead, expect a lot of Tyson Bagent and Carson Wentz Thursday night.
Keep scrolling for the latest betting odds, players to watch and a prediction for Bears vs. Chiefs.
Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs Prediction
- Bears -1 (-120)
The Bears have played great football this preseason, but not just from Caleb Williams and the starters. Backup QB Tyson Bagent, already one of the better backups in the league, has obviously taken a step from last season and threw for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Cincinnati last week.
Khalil Herbert is a strong backup running back and the 2nd/3rd team defense is full of playmakers such as Daniel Hardy, Elijah Hicks and more who will be vying for roster spots. There’s a reason Chicago is 3-0 in the preseason and has blown out competition.
Kansas City, despite the 0-2 record, has played well too. They lost by just 1 point to the Lions and competed with Jacksonville early. Ultimately, I trust Bagent in this spot more than Wentz or Chris Oladokun
Bears 21, Chiefs 17
Bears vs. Chiefs Odds (DraftKings)
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | -1 (-120) | -125 | O 32 (-110) |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +1 (+100) | +105 | U 32 (-110) |
Odds above via DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out our latest DraftKings promo code for information about one of the best welcome offers in the business.
DraftKings has listed this game as essentially a tossup, with the Bears slight spread favorites at -1 (-120). Kansas City is +1 (+100).
The moneyline margin is razor thin as well. Chicago is -125 to win outright while the Chiefs at +105 to win outright.
The point total for Bears vs. Chiefs sits at 32 per DraftKings, which is a slightly lower number than the remainder of the Week 3 slate. The Chiefs are averaging 18 points per game this preseason while Chicago is averaging 27 points per game. Given the fact we have a pair of 2nd and 3rd team defenses going against each other, I’d expect this to be a higher scoring affair.
Bears vs. Chiefs Names to Watch
- Tyson Bagent, Bears QB
- Carson Steele, Chiefs RB
- Daniel Hardy, Bears DE
I’ve talked about Bagent already, and I mean it when I say he could start for a few teams across the NFL this season. Last season’s feel-good story out of DII Sheperd started in place of Justin Fields and played better than you’d expect, and he’s looked like a 5-year veteran in preseason thus far. Of course, translating that to regular season speed is another task entirely, but Bagent is as good of a backup as you’ll find in the NFL today.
Who said the fullback is dead? Steele has looked like a steal as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA, he’s totaled 7 carries for 37 yards and a touchdown thus far. He’s the opposite of what you’d think a Chiefs player to be: slower, larger and hilariously brutish. His skillset – a goal line threat – could very well earn him a roster spot, but he’s still got to go out there and earn it.
Hardy is the definition of a guy that has made the most of his opportunity. The Bears’ pass rush is not expected to be great this year, and Hardy has already totaled 3.5 sacks this preseason. The Montana State product is playing his way into a roster spot in Chicago if he can keep this level of production going.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Down South and contributor with SBD!
The Chicago Bears are set to face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in Preseason Week 3, and there are a few key things to watch for in this matchup.
One of the biggest storylines heading into this game is the quarterback battle between Bears rookie Justin Fields and veteran Andy Dalton. Fields has been impressive in the first two preseason games, showing off his arm strength and mobility. Meanwhile, Dalton has been solid but unspectacular. It will be interesting to see how both quarterbacks perform against a tough Chiefs defense.
Another thing to watch for is the Bears’ defense, which has been one of the best units in the league over the past few seasons. They will be facing a high-powered Chiefs offense led by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Bears will need to generate pressure on Mahomes and limit the big plays if they want to come out on top.
On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs will be looking to fine-tune their offense ahead of the regular season. Mahomes will likely only play a few series, but backup quarterback Chad Henne will get plenty of reps. The Chiefs will also be looking to establish their running game, which has been a weakness in recent years.
Overall, this should be an exciting matchup between two talented teams. The outcome of this game may not matter in the grand scheme of things, but it will give us a glimpse of what to expect from both teams heading into the regular season. Keep an eye on the quarterback battle, the Bears’ defense, and the Chiefs’ offense as they square off in Preseason Week 3.