Phil Agius
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The Chicago Bears are getting a lot of media attention at the moment for the dysfunctional way they have been handling their quarterback situation and they’ve taken it to a new level this week with the news that any one of three QBs could start.
As we have all been told many times, Andy Dalton is QB1 if he’s healthy (but he’s not, as he’s coming back from a knee injury). Rookie Justin Fields started last week, but is also questionable with a hand injury–and presumably PTSD after what happened to him at Cleveland last week. That brings Nick “Philly Special” Foles into the equation. All this leaves bettors and oddsmakers with a game that’s hard to call, but here’s a same game parlay that shouldn’t be affected whichever QB they trot out at Soldier Field.
Let’s take a look at the parlay we’ve prepared, which pays +709 with FanDuel Sportsbook.
Detroit Lions +3 (-105)
Under 41.5 points (-115)
D’Andre Swift over 36.5 receiving yards (-113)
Parlay odds: +709
Detroit Lions +3 (-105)
For all the fuss over Chicago’s struggles, they have 1 more win on the board than 0-3 Detroit this season, but that helps to make taking the Lions as the first leg of our parlay better value. The Lions were in fact really close to recording a notable win over the Ravens last week, only to get beaten by a converted 4th-and-19 play and a record-breaking 66-yard field goal.
The stats from Chicago’s 26-6 loss to the Browns, in which Fields made his first NFL start, were alarming. The Bears had just 1 net passing yard and Fields was sacked 9 times. That was mostly down to the Bears’ atrocious offensive line, but it’s the same unit that will be playing in this game, whoever they are supposed to be protecting.
The Lions don’t have Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney on their d-line, but after dealing reasonably well with Lamar Jackson they shouldn’t be afraid of whoever is facing them in the Windy City. Chicago looks set to struggle to score whoever is under center, and they will be relying on their defense to give them a manageable total to aim for all season.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears
Under 41.5 points (-115)
That Bears defense doesn’t really deserve to be paired with the offense it shares a locker room with. With top quality players such as Roquan Smith, Robert Quinn, and Khalil Mack they have the potential to be an elite unit, but it will go to waste unless a functional offense can be produced. The Bears looked to be doing a good job dealing with Cleveland RB Nick Chubb in the first half last week, even though Chubb and backfield partner Kareem Hunt eventually combined for 165 rushing yards as the defense understandably wore down after being on the field for almost 40 minutes.
The Lions should get enough points — and plenty of opportunities — to outscore the Bears, but the chance of this game turning into a shootout is remote.
D’Andre Swift over 36.5 receiving yards (-113)
Swift confounded expectations last week. He had been in danger of missing the Ravens game due to a groin injury, but you wouldn’t have guessed that from the way he was moving against Baltimore. He registered 47 rushing yards on 14 carries, and added 60 receiving yards on 7 catches. Swift had 65 and 41 receiving yards in his first 2 games and will always be a valuable outlet for QB Jared Goff, who has the least-heralded set of wideouts in the league. With the Bears tough to run against, a short passing attack will likely be the plan again.
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