Bears (3-14 last season) vs Colts (4-12-1 last year)
Chicago Bears vs Indianapolis Colts August 19, 2023 — Buffalo found themselves at the bottom of the yards-after-catch category, accumulating a mere 1,132 yards in this aspect throughout 2022. Remarkably, they couldn’t muster a single play that resulted in a gain of 50 YAC during that time. However, in their inaugural preseason match, the primary offensive unit managed to execute two such plays, showcasing a rather imposing presence that left opposing defenses wary. As the first team receives extended playing time this coming Saturday, Chicago’s defense will undoubtedly need to enhance their performance, particularly after yielding 400 offensive yards to Tennessee.
In their encounter with the Indianapolis defense, which saw limited usage, Buffalo generated a total of 376 yards and secured 20 first downs. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis offense pieced together 307 yards and achieved 23 first downs. Despite the absence of Josh Allen, Buffalo’s starting quarterback, from the lineup, the Indianapolis defense allowed a significant 266 passing yards. The Colts must prioritize strengthening their secondary if they intend to steer clear of an arduous and prolonged season.
Chicago Bears vs Indianapolis Colts Game Info
Time: 7:00 PM ET.
Date: Saturday, August 19, 2023
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, IN
TV: NFL Network
Chicago QB Nathan Peterman and Indianapolis Sam Ehlinger
Nathan Peterman successfully connected on 11 out of 19 pass attempts, amassing a total of 114 yards and contributing one touchdown. His performance during the game remained unblemished by interceptions, resulting in a quarterback rating of 92.9. Khalil Herbert, the standout rusher for the Bears, carried the ball 10 times, attaining 50 yards with an average of 5.0 yards per carry. On the receiving end, Cole Kmet secured 4 catches for a total of 57 yards, averaging an impressive 14.3 yards per reception. The Chicago Bears made 22 attempts to execute rushing plays, amassing a collective 118 yards and maintaining an average of 5.4 yards per attempt.
Sam Ehlinger was responsible for 2 touchdowns and concluded the game with a passing yardage of 209 that achieved 23 completions out of 35 attempts. This performance translated to a quarterback rating of 77. Despite an average yards per attempt (Y/A) of 6.0, he did encounter two interceptions. Regarding the running game, the Indianapolis defense permitted a mere 59 yards on 23 attempts, averaging 2.6 yards per carry. The Colts’ secondary conceded 301 yards through 24 out of 40 completed passes, resulting in a 60.0% completion rate. The Colts managed to accumulate a total of 398 yards throughout 70 plays, equating to an average of 5.7 yards per play. The Colts secured 196 yards from 33 attempts, averaging 5.9 yards per endeavor.
Odds/Point Spread: Chicago Bears +3.5, Total Odds: 40.5
The Buffalo Bills’ starting quarterback Josh Allen didn’t play a single action in the first preseason game, but Justin Fields still managed to throw for two touchdowns against an Indianapolis defense that also allowed the Bills to pass for 266 yards. Expect more of the same on Saturday as Chicago will use its passing offense, which Fields will lead, to quickly build a double-digit lead that Indianapolis will be unable to overcome.
Chicago Bears Betting Trends
- Chicago is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games with the Indianapolis Colts.
- The Bears are 5-2 SU in their last 7 matches against Indianapolis.
- The Chicago Bears are 1-7 SU in their last 8 games on the road.
- The team is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on the road against the Colts.
Indianapolis Colts Betting Trends
- The total went OVER in 8 of Indianapolis’ last 12 games with the Bears.
- The Indianapolis Colts are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games at home.
- Indianapolis is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games at home against Chicago.
- The Colts are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games against an opponent in the NFC.
Chicago Bears vs Indianapolis Colts Betting Trends
Chicago Bears vs Indianapolis Colts: Based on recent against-the-spread trends, the model predicts the Bears will cover the spread with 54.1% confidence. Both predictions factor in up-to-date player injuries for both the Bears and Colts, plus offensive & defensive matchups, recent games, and key player performances this season. The Bears had a third down conversion rate of just 5.6% on 3rd and 10+ YTG in the last 4 weeks of the regular season — fourth-worst in NFL. The Colts’ defense allowed a third down conversion rate of just 6.7% on 3rd and 10+ YTG in the last 4 weeks of the regular season — fourth-best in NFL. The Bears TEs averaged 7.0 yards after the catch in the last 4 weeks of the regular season — third-best in the NFL. The Colts allowed 7.3 yards after catch per reception to TEs in the last 4 weeks of the regular season — third-worst in NFL.
Free Pick and Prediction: Chicago Bears will win 23-19.
