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Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills preview, prediction, betting odds, live stream info

By Patrick Schmidt

Aug 8, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) throws a pass during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) throws a pass during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Buffalo Bills vs Chicago Bears

The Buffalo Bills open the 2014 NFL Season against the Chicago Bears at Chicago’s Soldier Field as the Bills look to contend for an AFC Wild Card spot in the second year under Doug Marrone. The Bears are in the second year under Marc Trestman and hope the defensive additions in the draft and free agency result in dethroning the Green Bay Packers for the NFC North division crown.

Date: Sunday, Sept. 7
Start time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Stadium: Soldier Field
TV info: Fox
Live stream: NFL Sunday Ticket
Radio: Bears broadcast on WBBM 780 AM. Bills broadcast on WGR 550 AM.
Ticket info: For Bears ticket info click here. For Bills ticket info click here.

Keys to Victory

The Bills will look to get the rushing attack going early against the Bears rush defense that was among the league’s worst in 2013 and rely on Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller to set the tone early and get the team in favorable third down situations for second-year quarterback E.J. Manuel.

Success on the ground will take the pressure off Manuel after a disappointing preseason that didn’t see him take the giant leap expected of him in the second year in the system. He will benefit from having Sammy Watkins in the lineup after being in and out of the lineup in the preseason with a rib injury. The Bills first round pick expects to suit up and could be a difference maker against a Bears secondary that is weak at the safety positions.

Chicago will test the Bills defense at all three levels with Matt Forte getting work as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. Jay Cutler will look to expose a Bills secondary that lost Jairus Byrd in free agency with Pro Bowl receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Tight end Martellus Bennett could be the x-factor with Pro Bowl linebacker Kiko Alonso out of the lineup with a torn ACL.

Bears must get great play from the defensive line, especially newcomers Jared Allen and Lamar Houston and force the Bills to become one-dimensional and force Manuel to beat them with the pass. Linebacker is a weakness on this team, but Lance Briggs is still around and should be a tackling machine from his Will linebacker position. Safety is a bigger weakness than linebacker and need Chris Conte to be cleared from his concussion and start at free safety.

Betting Odds

Point spread: CHI -7
Moneyline: BUF: 260/CHI -310
Over/Under: 47

Prediction

The Bears revamped front four does enough to slow down the combination of Jackson and Spiller to force Manuel into a number of third-and-long’s and puts consistent pressure on him and forces him into a number of mistakes and errant throws. Jared Allen gets his first sack in his first regular season game with the team and the Bears defense forces three turnovers, two on Manuel interceptions.

Buffalo has no answer for the combination of Marshall and Jeffery as they combine for 14 receptions and more than 200 yards and Matt Forte has more than 120 yards from scrimmage as the Bears defeat the Bills, 31-20 in front of the home crowd.

Final Score: Bills: 20, Bears: 31

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