Chicago Bears vs Miami Dolphins Preseason Odds, Preview & Prediction
The Chicago Bears like to think they are getting a fresh, new start thiis season under Ben Johnson, who became a fashionable head coaching candidate based on his reputation as offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions.
Meanwhile, is Mike McDaniel’s act getting a little stale with the Miami Dolphins? He usually has a relatively relaxed atmosphere in the Magic City. And that’s all well and good when you are throwing the ball down the field with abandon. But when you’re not doing that, pouty, self-centered receivers get even more pouty and self-centered.
That’s a real problem here.
The Bears and Dolphins meet up in their respective NFL preseason openers on Sunday at 1 PM ET at Soldier Field in the Windy City.
Pro football preseason betting odds on the Dolphins at Bears
The Bears are the favorite, according to the numbers posted at BetUS
Chicago Bears -3
Miami Dolphins +3
Over 36 Points -110
Under 36 Points -110
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A little about the Chicago Bears
Needless to say, new coach Ben Johnson intends to add some wrinkles in the Chicago offense that were not there before. The Bears have gone to great lengths to firm up their offensive line situation, with Joe Thuney and Drew Dalman the two big additions. This should do them some good when it comes to protecting Caleb Williams.
And Williams, who threw only six interceptions as a rookie last year, has to figure out a way to do that and avoid getting buried by opposing pass rushers at the same time.
Do the Bears have enough firepower in the receiving corps? They might, when one considers the talents of Rome Odunze and DJ Moore on the outside, and by drafting Colston Loveland they might be able to get a lot more into the two-tight end alignments that Johnson likes.
Running the ball has to be a key, and this is where the Bears might be coming up a little short. Is D’Andre Swift, who averaged 3.8 yards a carry in 2024, enough to spearhead the ground game? Kyle Monangai, a seventh-round draft pick from Rutgers (just like Isiah Pacheco) will be getting a lot of attention on Sunday.
Williams probably isn’t going to be playing much, but the staff is being very coy about the time he’ll spend on the field.
A little about the Miami Dolphins
Apparently there is some friction between quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill and it’s a distraction that has hovered over this camp. Hill’s main problem might be that he didn’t get the ball enough and far enough down the field last year, and it might hurt him in the pocketbook, as he isn’t guaranteed any money after this season.
Witn all the concussions he has suffered, it is understandable that Tua would be gun shy. And fearful of not having enough time to get rid of the ball, he doesn’t throw it very far beyond the line of scrimmage. His Intended Air Yards last year was 5.7 per throw, which was the lowest of all the starting quarterbacks in the NFL. When that happens, a stat-hungry receiver like Hill is not going to be happy. His 11.8 yards per catch last year was the second lowest of his career.
Evidently there has been some dialogue with Tua and Hill lately.
McDaniel appeared on the Rich Eisen Show and commented on the relationship between his quarterback and star wide receiver.
“So I thought it was a maturation, or a graduation, of Tua as a leader of the team and also I think it speaks to how healthy they are because there haven’t been that many opportunities for the public to see them interact. But as time passes, you’ll see a more connected relationship and really they not hiding from anything.”
I’m not sure that statement carries any real meaning.
Regardless, we doubt that Tua or Hill plays a big part in this game. Zach Wilson is the primary backup quarterback; he has a good chance of hanging onto that #2 job because of his experience (33 NFL starts). Quinn Ewers, who started over Arch Manning at Texas, will see action as well. He was a seventh-round draft choice but was considered by many to be more formidable than that.
Prediction – Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears
It’s Ben Johnson’s debut. It’s a new offensive system. There are more talented players now executing it. And Williams has to get acclimated to all of it. He should get snaps.
But things could get very choppy. And allow us to remind you that these teams will be meeting in one of those “live scrimmages” that have become common these days. So there will be a higher degree of familiarity at a time of the year when defenses are usually ahead of offenses.
The Dolphins have also played five of six preseason games under the total over the last two seasons. UNDER 36 looks like our way to go.
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