Will The Bears Carry Their Defensive Momentum Into Week 16?

Read Our Cardinals-Bears Betting Game Preview For Plenty Of Helpful Analysis

While the Chicago Bears have played better recently, they’re sitting at 5-9 on the season and won’t make the playoffs. Questions have surrounded the quarterback position all season long, with the Bears expected to earn the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.

The pick won’t be Chicago’s actual pick. It’ll be the No. 1 overall pick from the Carolina Panthers, who traded the 2024 pick away for Bryce Young.

Chicago seemingly fleeced the Panthers and is getting closer to being competitive. But in Chicago, being competitive won’t be good enough.

That said, the Bears are on pace to win No. 6 on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona is just 3-11 on the season but has won two of its last five games.

Therefore, the Cardinals are 4-point underdogs, with the total sitting at 43. The Cardinals won’t be favorites for the rest of the season.

Take a look at the Cardinals-Bears betting game preview for Week 16 below.

Cardinals logo Arizona Cardinals vs Chicago Bears Bears logo

Location: Solider Field, Chicago, IL
Day/Time: Streaming: FOX

Cardinals-Bears Betting Game Preview & Trends

Although the Arizona Cardinals are just 3-11 on the season, they have gone 7-6-1 against the spread this season. Arizona hasn’t been so bad against the spread. Meanwhile, the Over has hit in eight of 14 games this year in Arizona games.

However, the Cardinals have only earned one win on the road this season. They’ll be on the road against the Bears on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Bears have gone 6-6-2 against the spread and have hit the Under and Over in seven games each. Chicago has been much better at home, going 3-3 compared to its road record of 2-6.

Head-to-head, the Bears and Cardinals have each won three games since 2006. Arizona won last time out on December 21, with a 33-22 victory as 7.5-point favorites.

Uncover Exclusive Picks & Predictions From Our Experts.

Where Are Arizona’s Receivers?

Arizona lost its last game to the San Francisco 49ers, 45-29. The offense did its part against a fierce defense. However, Kyler Murray has struggled to find open wide receivers. He’s passing it to tight ends more than anything.

In the last two games, Murray has only targeted a wide receiver 21 times. Those receivers have only made six catches for 45 yards on those 21 attempts.

Murray is frustrated that he’s not getting the wide receivers involved. However, his tight end, Trey McBride, has been the most consistent component of the team in the second half of the season. He’s getting most of the reps and has caught the balls, unlike Arizona’s wide receivers.

Arizona’s also had success running the football. Not all of the offense has come from the air. But we’ll see if the Cardinals can get their wide receivers more involved moving forward.

CB Jaylon Johnson Wants To Stay In Chicago

Less than two months ago, Jaylon Johnson and the Chicago Bears couldn’t agree to a contract extension.

But after an impressive second half from Johnson and the entire Bears defense, he told ESPN that he wants to sign a new deal with the organization in the offseason.

He also said he was open to other options but would still love to stick around in Chicago. He feels like the Bears are building something special and doesn’t believe he can have the same chemistry with another group of people as the ones in the locker room in Chicago.

Johnson requested permission to seek a trade before the October 31 trade deadline, but Ryan Poles was eager to keep him on the roster. It looks like things will work themselves out in the offseason after all.

More Turnovers For Chicago!

The Chicago Bears were one of the more laughable teams in the NFL at the start of the season. The offense was poor, and the defense didn’t really make any big plays.

Heading into Week 16, the Bears have earned 18 interceptions, five more fumble recoveries, and 25 sacks while adding 62 pass deflections.

The secondary has stepped up big thanks to Jaylon Johnson.

Meanwhile, Arizona was in the same boat to begin the year. Kyler Murray was rehabbing from a season-ending injury last season and didn’t come back until the middle of this year. Murray and the Cardinals have scored at least 24 points in three of their previous five games. Murray has proved he belongs to the Cardinals as the future starting quarterback.

However, the Bears are more balanced. The offense typically doesn’t score off turnovers. But against Arizona, the Bears can execute better.

The Cardinals have allowed nearly 220 yards in the air and another almost 140 yards on the ground per game this season. Chicago doesn’t have the most effective passing unit with Fields. But the Bears have rushed the ball 134.43 yards per game this season.

Arizona arguably has the worst run defense in the NFL, and it’s not like the secondary and pass rush is that much better.

Neither team will have Super Bowl odds next to their name. However, the current NFL spreads suggest that the Bears are likelier to win this game.

We agree. The NFL players stats 2023 for the Bears on defense have outshined the Cardinals in every way. Therefore, in our Cardinals-Bears Betting Game preview, we suggest the Bears at -4.5 (-105).

For NFL betting news, NFL standings, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.


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