The Chicago Bears made the playoffs in 2020, but quickly fell to the New Orleans Saints 21-9.
Now, huge questions loom as we head into the offseason.
Will general manager Ryan Pace be back? How about Matt Nagy, or Mitchell Trubisky?
The Bears will pick 20th in the upcoming NFL Draft, so they likely won’t be in position to grab a top-notch signal caller. They are also capped out, so they’ll need to release players or restructure contracts in order to do anything significant.
Here’s how the Bears shape up as we head to the offseason.
We know the Bears’ opponents for 2021, but we don’t yet know the exact schedule. We’ll have game odds once they’re available.
See below for the current odds for the top contenders to win the Super Bowl this year.
Here was the full Bears 2020 slate.
Week | Opponent | Result | Time, TV |
---|---|---|---|
Week 1 | at Lions | W, 27-23 | Noon CST, FOX |
Week 2 | vs. Giants | W, 17-13 | Noon CST, CBS |
Week 3 | at Falcons | W, 30-26 | Noon CST, FOX |
Week 4 | vs. Colts | L, 19-11 | Noon CST, CBS |
Week 5 | vs. Buccaneers | W, 20-19 | 7:20 p.m. CST, FOX |
Week 6 | at Panthers | W, 23-16 | Noon CT, FOX |
Week 7 | at Rams | L, 24-10 | 7:15 p.m. CST, ESPN |
Week 8 | vs. Saints | L, 26-23 (OT) | 3:25 p.m. CST, FOX |
Week 9 | at Titans | L, 24-17 | Noon CST, FOX |
Week 10 | vs. Vikings | L, 19-13 | 7:15 p.m. CST, ESPN |
Week 11 | BYE | BYE | |
Week 12 | at Packers | L, 41-25 | 7:20 p.m. CST, NBC |
Week 13 | vs. Lions | L, 34-30 | Noon CST, FOX |
Week 14 | vs. Texans | W, 36-7 | Noon CST, CBS |
Week 15 | at Vikings | W, 33-27 | Noon CST, FOX |
Week 16 | at Jaguars | W, 41-17 | Noon CST, FOX |
Week 17 | vs. Packers | L, 35-16 | Noon CST, FOX |
You aren’t limited to just betting on whether the Bears win any season. There are many more opportunities to explore on the betting menu. Two of the most popular areas are futures and props.
Futures are bet you can place on how you think the season as a whole will play out. Odds for the top markets will be released in the offseason and remain active through the year. Here are some of the top offerings that you’ll see.
Props can be found by clicking through on the game listings. Oftentimes, you’ll see a link that’s labeled “more wagers.” Once you click on it, you’ll see the list of offerings for the current game. Here are a few examples of what you might see.
There will also be props that revolve around team or game circumstances, such as which side will have more total rushing yards and whether or not there will be a return TD in the game.
For regular props, odds are attached as soon as the prop is released, and they may fluctuate based on betting action. The same holds true in the futures market. As bets begin to come in, there’s often movement based on where the betting action is headed.
To find the best prices, it’s always a good idea to shop around on both futures and props. For futures, don’t forget that you can check back constantly to see what the market has to say. It’s worth doing so as appealing prices on the players and teams you are interested in can appear at any time.
At the 2020 NFL draft, the Bears were without a first-round pick, but the team did have a pair of selections in round two. All told, the Bears walked away with seven new members of the team. Here’s a look at the latest additions in Chicago.
The Bears were also without a first-round pick in 2019, but the team found a potential gem in round three when it drafted Iowa State RB David Montgomery. Looking back over the rest of the last 10 years, here are the first-round draft choices for Chicago.
Going into the season, here’s where prominent Illinois sportsbooks had the Bears’ lines. As you can see, oddsmakers mostly had it right.
Sportsbook | OVER Win Total | UNDER Win Total | Super Bowl | NFC Championship | NFC North |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DraftKings | 7.5 (-130) | 7.5 (+107) | +4000 | +2000 | +380 |
FanDuel | 8 (+110) | 8 (-130) | +4400 | +2100 | +390 |
And some individual props from those same books, first at DraftKings:
And FanDuel:
A bit into the season, it doesn’t look like any of those will hit besides the Robinson over.
Outside linebacker Robert Quinn
Tight end Jimmy Graham
Quarterback Nick Foles
Free safety Tashaun Gipson
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson
Tight end Cole Kmet
Wide receiver Darnell Mooney
Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd
Tight end Trey Burton
Free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkowski
Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (opt-out)
The Bears came crashing back to reality after winning 12 games in 2018, going 8-8. Trubisky regressed to the point where general manager Ryan Pace brought in Foles for competition. The defense, which forced 36 takeaways in 2018, forced just 19 in 2019. Mack had a down year (by his standards) finishing with 8.5 sacks, and Hicks missed most of the season due to injury.
The offense scored 17.5 points per game, which ranked 29th in the NFL. The Bears also finished 29th in yards per game, and for as anemic as Trubisky was, the running game didn’t help matters. Chicago ranked 30th as a team in yards per carry.
Date | Opponent | Result | Record |
---|---|---|---|
9/5/19 | Green Bay Packers | L, 10-3 | 0-1 |
9/15/19 | at Denver Broncos | W, 16-14 | 1-1 |
9/23/19 | at Washington Football Team | W, 31-15 | 2-1 |
9/29/19 | Minnesota Vikings | W, 16-6 | 3-1 |
10/6/19 | at Oakland Raiders | L, 24-21 | 3-2 |
10/20/19 | New Orleans Saints | L, 36-25 | 3-3 |
10/27/19 | Los Angeles Chargers | L, 17-16 | 3-4 |
11/3/19 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L, 22-14 | 3-5 |
11/10/19 | Detroit Lions | W, 20-13 | 4-5 |
11/17/19 | at Los Angeles Rams | L, 17-7 | 4-6 |
11/24/19 | New York Giants | W, 19-14 | 5-6 |
11/28/19 | at Detroit Lions | W, 24-20 | 6-6 |
12/5/19 | Dallas Cowboys | W, 31-24 | 7-6 |
12/15/19 | at Green Bay Packers | L, 21-13 | 7-7 |
12/22/19 | Kansas City Chiefs | L, 26-3 | 7-8 |
12/29/19 | at Minnesota Vikings | W, 21-19 | 8-8 |
The Bears have had some trouble finding stability at the QB position through the years. Consider this: Jay Cutler holds a number of the team’s passing records, and his tenure with the club only lasted from 2009-16.
Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles are hoping to be the team’s long-term answer at the position, so we’ll wait and see what develops on that front. For now, let’s take a look back at the players who have started at QB for the Bears since the turn of the century.
The history of the Chicago Bears is long and stretches all the way back to the days of the franchise known as the Decatur Staleys in 1920. Since that time, only 17 men have led the way as head coach.
The legendary George Halas was in charge for much of the early going, while franchise legend Mike Ditka helped the club recapture its past glory in the 1980s. Since 1999, just five head coaches have roamed the sidelines in Chicago. Here’s a look at the records for each of them.
Coach | Tenure | Regular Season | Postseason |
---|---|---|---|
Matt Nagy | 2018-present | 24-13 | 0-1 |
John Fox | 2015-17 | 14-34 | NA |
Marc Trestman | 2013-14 | 13-19 | NA |
Lovie Smith | 2004-12 | 81-63 | 3-3 |
Dick Jauron | 1999-2003 | 35-45 | 0-1 |
Nagy was able to lead the team to the postseason in his first year at the helm, but the club took a step back with a mark of 8-8 in 2019. The club has the talent to return to the playoffs in 2020, but we’ll have to wait and see how the season develops.
From 1921 through 1970, the Bears played home games at Wrigley Field, which is better known as the home of MLB’s Chicago Cubs. The club needed some larger digs from there and initially moved into the next stop on what it thought was a short-term commitment. Chicago home games are still held there to this day. Here’s where you can catch the Bears in person.
The NFL has a concrete broadcast agreement in place for each window of the schedule. Depending on when the Bears game is scheduled, here’s where you’ll be able to tune in and watch.
Each of the above channels can be found on major cable, satellite and streaming packages throughout Illinois. For other streaming options, the NFL app and Yahoo Sports provide coverage of select local and primetime games.
For the Sunday afternoon slate, NFL RedZone provides whip-around coverage of all of the games. This is a subscription add-on that is available via many providers. Last but not least, the main broadcast channels — CBS, Fox and NBC — can be picked up via antennae in many areas. The games will be carried by the local affiliates in your area.
On the radio side, WBBM 780 AM and 105.9 FM serves as the flagship radio station for Bears broadcasts. Jeff Joniak handles the play-by-play, while Tom Thayer handles analysis. The feed is picked up by numerous stations across the state. Audio coverage of Bears games is also available on TuneIn, which is available both on the web and via mobile.
When the Bears are set to take the field, it’s quite the event for loyal fans of the team. If you’re looking to go out to watch the game, you’re in luck. There are a number of quality places to visit throughout the Chicago area. Here’s a peek at five of the top spots to consider. Don’t forget, you can download any of the NFL betting apps above and place your bets, while watching the game live at a bar.
A part of the Chicago landmark district, this is an awesome Irish pub with plenty of TVs watch the game. You’ll find food and drink specials, a friendly atmosphere and an all-around good time.
Located in the West Loop, the Ambassador Public House is a European-style pub with food and drink specials and plenty of HDTVs to soak in the action. If you’re a fan of lots of different beers, you’ll like it here.
On the North Side, you’ll find the Globe Pub, a cool spot to catch all kinds of sports. The bar features plenty of smart TVs to watch the game, an extended happy hour during the week and an expansive beer list.
TVs, pub food, pool table, jukeboxes, great drink selection, and a place to kick back and watch the games? You’ll find that and much more at High Dive, a popular destination for Bears fans.
A popular watering hole off the South Loop, The Scout features an awesome food menu plus plenty of beers and cocktails to choose from. Of course, there are also a number of screens to catch the action.
Listed hours for these establishments are current as of this writing, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead and verify so that you don’t miss a second of the action. One more thing: Now that sports betting is legalized in Illinois, you won’t miss a beat on that end either.
Apps from leading operators can be with you on the go, and you can also log in to make live bets as the Bears game plays out. We’ll call that a win-win situation that Bears fans should absolutely be taking advantage of.
In 1920, the A.E. Staley Co. formed a football team. Known as the Decatur Staleys, the club began play in 1919. The team relocated to Chicago in 1921, and was rechristened as the Bears for the 1922 campaign.
A charter member of the NFL, the Bears found a good deal of success in the days before the NFL-AFL merger. Between 1921 and 1963, the team won eight league championships. In the Super Bowl era, the Bears have won just one big game and come up short in another.
All along the way, the franchise has fielded a number of the game’s most legendary all-time players. Here are some of the more notable facts and figures from Bears franchise history.
The Bears recently made some history on the wagering front, as well. The club has made a deal with PointsBet as its first official sports betting partner. The Australia-based sportsbook has made some great strides here in the US and has plans for the Illinois market.
PointsBet will be visible across the Bears’ various digital assets, with additional sponsorship opportunities in the stadium. The sportsbook will have a retail location at Hawthorne Race Course, with plans for additional outlets in the area. It’s also available online and via app. The platform has been a big hit with handicappers of all experience levels.
Yes, sports betting is now officially legal in Illinois. Legislation was originally approved in 2019, but it took some time for the official rollout. Retail options opened in March 2020, while online platforms made their debut over the summer. Additional options will continue to be unveiled moving forward.
Las Vegas no longer has the best sports betting odds on lockdown. It was like that for decades, but that’s no longer the case in the new legal environment. Sports betting operators across the legal states are releasing odds that are in line with what you’ll find out in Sin City. That includes right here in Illinois. You can certainly take a peek at the numbers from out in Vegas, but you’ll find comparable prices here at home.
As one of the charter members of the NFL, the Bears have quite the lengthy history. The franchise has featured a number of legendary players through the years, including dozens of Hall of Famers. On an all-time basis, two names stick out on the offensive side of the ball, both of whom played running back: Gale Sayers and Walter Payton. These are two of the best ever to play at the position, and their legacies have more than stood the test of time. On defense, Dick Butkus was one of the most feared players of his era and is remembered as one of the very best linebackers of all time.
For the 2020 season, LB Khalil Mack tops the charts. He has a base salary of $13.3 million plus bonuses and incentives that work out to a total salary cap hit of $26.6 million. WR Allen Robinson is next with a base of $10.9 million and a cap number of $15 million. DT Akiem Hicks holds down the third spot with a base of $10.2 million and a total salary cap expenditure of $11.8 million.
As an enormously popular local team that also has a big national following, the Bears are a hot ticket. On the low end, you’re looking at around $80 for the cheap seats. The median price is around $300, while top tier tickets can go for over $1,000. Naturally, exact pricing will vary based on seat location. Additionally, keep in mind that prices on the secondary market could be much greater if the club is having a great season or set to square off against one of the league’s top teams.