The Chicago Bears went into their bye last week after losing four games in a row. In Week 11, they’ll be hosting the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon.
NFL betting odds place the Bears as a 5.5-point underdog at home. Do they have a chance to cover the spread?
It’s possible. Let’s take a look at this game to see if the Bears can cover.
Chicago Bears: NFL Week 11
After nine games, the Chicago Bears are 3-6 overall. They’re currently in third place in the NFC North, one game behind the Minnesota Vikings.
During the Bears’ home opener back in Week 2, starting QB Andy Dalton suffered a knee injury against his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals. Dalton had signed a one-year deal with the Bears in the offseason.
Enter rookie quarterback Justin Fields, the Bears’ first-round draft pick.
Fields replaced Dalton late in the first half with a seven-point lead. He finished the game six-for-13 with 60 passing yards and an interception. He also scrambled ten times for 31 yards.
The Bears won at home, 20-17.
In the following week, they lost on the road to the Cleveland Browns, 26-6. Then, in Week 4, the Bears picked up another win at Soldier Field. This time, it was a 24-14 victory against the Detroit Lions.
Fields completed 11 of 17 passes for 209 yards and an interception.
In Week 5, the Bears went on the road to face the Las Vegas Raiders. Fields threw one touchdown pass on top of 111 yards in a 20-9 victory.
The Bears were 3-2, and Fields was their new starting quarterback.
Four-Game Losing Streak
The Bears’ four-game losing streak began in Week 6.
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers came to Chicago. Rodgers put up 195 passing yards with two touchdowns. His record versus the Bears improved to 21-5.
In that matchup, Fields threw for 174 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The Bears got battered by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the following week, 38-3. Fields threw three interceptions.
They then fell to the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
During their four-game skid, the Bears lost by an average of 14.5 points. Their offense only averaged 16.5 points in those losses.
Do the Bears have any chance at covering the spread versus the Ravens?
Can the Bears Cover This Week?
One bright spot for the Chicago Bears this season (besides playing the Lions twice) is their 2-2 record at home. They are also 3-2 ATS after a loss.
The bad news for the Bears is that the Ravens have a perfect record after a loss (2-0).
The best path to victory might fall on the shoulders of running back David Montgomery. But the Bears’ rookie quarterback tends to use his legs instead.
Fields likes to scramble. He has 52 attempts for 288 yards and two rushing touchdowns. At 5.5 yards-per-carry, his average is better than both Montgomery and backup Khalil Herbert.
A rookie quarterback shouldn’t be overly responsible for his team’s offensive output. The Bears have had a difficult time passing the ball, in part because of the overreliance on Justin Fields.
The Bears have 1,297 passing yards (after deducting sacks) and 1,229 rushing yards, for a total of 2,526 yards. Fields accounts for 1570 yards in both passing and rushing, which is 62.1% of that. If Chicago calls more plays for their running backs, it will stop the defense from zeroing in on Fields, giving him more play-action opportunities and allowing him to take advantage of Baltimore’s passing defense, which allows 283.3 yards per game.
If the Bears rely more on Montgomery to run the ball, with Fields only rushing whenever necessary, it can take pressure off the rookie and allow him to develop at a reasonable pace. It will also give them a greater chance to cover this week at home.
Once their offense loses its balance, Baltimore can capitalize on Justin Field’s inevitable mistakes, and this game will get out of hand quickly.
Are the Bears a Good Pick for King of the Weekend?
The Ravens have shown they can recover after a loss this season. As a 5.5-point road favorite, this week should be a good test.
To me, it’s a toss-up on if the Bears can cover. But, of course, it could go either way.
In which direction are you leaning for the Chicago Bears to cover the spread? Will the Baltimore Ravens struggle again on the road, or will they bounce back and win against the Bears? This week, make your picks regarding the top six teams to score the most points via BetMGM’s King of the Weekend promo. You could win $50,000. Sign up for an account to get started today.
NFL Odds From Your Phone
You can bet on NFL odds from your phone with mobile sports betting. From the BetMGM Sportsbook app, you have access to updated odds, live NFL betting, and more. Download the app and get closer to the action today!
