Chicago Bears Odds

The 2021 Chicago Bears are a mystery to the entire NFL. Will Nick Foles be their starter, or will they end up with Deshaun Watson? Will they extend Allen Robinson? How about all of their cap issues? This list goes on and on and on. The only thing anyone knows about next season is another year of mediocrity will lead to the dismissal of Head Coach Matt Nagy and General Manager Ryan Pace.

With many questions yet to be answered in the offseason, the franchise will likely be right where they were last year, second or third place in the division.

Unless Deshaun Watson becomes a Bear, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will remain the clear cut favorites to win the division and make a deep playoff run. The Vikings will be much better than they were in 2020, returning Danielle Hunter and Eric Kendricks from injuries. Hunter, their best defensive player, missed the entire season due to injury. Not to mention they will continue to showcase a great offense.

The Bears have salary cap issues, coaching issues, no answer at QB, and an aging defense. Not to mention, they may lose Allen Robinson.

Chicago Bears Odds To Win Super Bowl

First off, don’t hold your breath on this. Right now, the Bears are in a four-way tie with the 19th best odds to win the Super Bowl in 2022 at 50:1. If you’re a hopeful fan, here’s the list of teams they are tied with to bring you back down to earth:

  • Eagles
  • Cardinals
  • Falcons 

This team has too many holes to win a Super Bowl in 2022. Here are the three biggest needs heading into the season:

  • A QB (you cannot win ANYTHING without this position) 
  • A stud offensive lineman (Use their 20th overall Pick on it) 
  • A running back to pair with Montgomery 

Let’s start with the QB position. First off, Nick Foles is more than capable of being a solid backup QB for the next several years. In fact, he would be one of the best backups in the league, should the Bears be smart enough to go out and make a move. Foles is not overpaid, either. He makes what good backups should make, and his contract should be viewed as a positive. There is only one scenario that makes sense for Foles to start, and that will be discussed in a few paragraphs.

All of that being said, the former Super Bowl champion cannot be their starter, unless Nagy wants to be fired at the end of the year. The good thing for the Bears is they have almost ten options to choose from to fill their starting role next season.

Here are the five best options for them, should they want to improve their Super Bowl odds:

  • Deshaun Watson 
  • Dak Prescott 
  • Derek Carr 
  • Justin Fields / Trey Lance
  • Sam Darnold 

First and foremost, the Houston Texans are going to hold out on Watson’s trade demands this offseason because no matter their return, they lose the trade. Watson would not only make the Bears the best team in the division but probably the second-best team in the conference. Most NFL insiders believe Watson will remain in Houston.

The Dallas Cowboys are another franchise that continues to make very poor decisions, up and down the roster. They hired a bad head coach, they paid everyone but their franchise QB, and are nowhere close to a Super Bowl. They are even farther away than the Bears are.

Dak Prescott enjoys being in Dallas, but the franchise has made their message loud and clear. Now, following a compound ankle fracture that sidelined him for most of the season, Prescott is left without a multi-year contract needing to prove himself again. Due to all of the Matthew Stafford and Watson talks, Prescott has slipped under the radar. With the way things sit in Dallas, they will likely offer him less money because of his injury.

Enter the Chicago Bears*

The Bears can offer Dallas a package similar to Stafford’s Deal with the Rams and bring a star to the lakefront. Is Prescott a top-5 QB like Watson? No, he’s not, but he top-10 without question and makes the Bears immediate contenders.

Their third best option (and most realistic) is acquiring Derek Carr from Jon Gruden’s Raiders. Gruden has a ten-year contract and wants to build the team with his own personnel. If the price was right, Gruden would probably consider moving Carr to the Bears. NFL insiders say Carr trade talks are legitimate, as the Raiders have failed to make the playoffs in the first three seasons under Gruden.

The trade package for Carr would be cheaper than the other options listed because he’s not as good as them. He’s a top-half QB that is light years better than Trubisky and Foles.

The last three options will make the Bears a better team, but not Super Bowl contenders in 2022. If they choose to move up in the draft with teams who have their QB situations figured out (Eagles, Lions, Bengals), drafting Trey Lance, Justin Fields, or Zach Wilson becomes a reality. All three would give fans hope for the future of the franchise.

As far as Sam Darnold goes, he may not be great, but he was coached and developed by Adam Gase and no running game. Nagy is a much better coach than Gase, despite what fans may think and they have great weapons for him to use. Darnold would not be very expensive and may be worth taking a flyer on.

Chicago Bears Odds To Win NFC North

As things stand right now, the Bears are the third-best team in the NFC North. There will be one, perhaps two quarterback moves made by the franchise this offseason. Depending on those moves they will either remain third or move up to second above the Vikings.

Currently, there are no odds on individual divisions because the offseason is just beginning. But by looking at the constructed rosters, should the Bears land Watson or Prescott, they are immediately better than the Vikings and competing with the Packers for the division crown. Should they land Carr they are on the same level as the Vikings, but because of their defense probably ahead by a couple of games.

Taking a look at the Bears, their defense will return all notable players: Mack, Hicks, Jackson, Fuller, Smith, Johnson, Trevathan*

*May look to move him for cap reasons and draft an ILB

The Bears have also hired a disciple of Vic Fangio for their open defensive coordinator position Sean Desai. Fangio was known for putting his players in positions of strength, and Chuck Pagano seemed to struggle at that. With Pagano’s retirement, this is a breath of fresh air and a chance to get one final dominant year out of the core group. The biggest thing Desai needs to do is fix the pass rush because the pass rush leads to everything else (longer third-down conversions, more turnovers, better field position for the offense, etc.).

Offensively, who knows where this team ends up. They have more questions than any other team in the league when it comes to where, who, how, and what is going to happen. If the Bears manage to snag a top QB, will Matt Nagy be able to make it work? He hasn’t been able to make it work with three QBs now. Is Allen Robinson going to sit out if the Bears use the franchise tag on him? All signs point to them using that option. How is Tarik Cohen going to look post ACL injury? He is a great alternate look on offense because of his athleticism, but he cannot be the team’s number two running back. Will Cordarralle Patterson be back? Bears fans should hope so because he figured out something late in the season, in terms of running the ball.

One thing is for sure about this offense, if they don’t make a significant upgrade at QB (Prescott, Watson, Carr), they will finish 7-9 and Nagy/Pace will be looking for a new team to run in 2022. Their schedule is tough. Here are their opponents:

  • Tampa Bay
  • San Francisco (healthy) 
  • Seahawks 
  • Steelers
  • Browns
  • Ravens
  • Rams
  • Cardinals 
  • Packers x2
  • Vikings x2
  • Lions x2

I mean, wow, that schedule is going to beat them into oblivion if they start Nick Foles. The NFL’s top-five defenses are all on the list (Rams, Buccaneers, Steelers, Ravens, 49ers).

Basically, don’t bet on the Bears to win the NFC North in 2021. They will likely finish third. 

Let’s take a deeper look at the Minnesota Vikings. Right off the bat, their offense is filled with talent. They showcase two of the best wide receivers in the NFL and a top-five rusher in 2020. Justin Jefferson put up numbers only Randy Moss had for the Vikings in his rookie season. Jefferson was a first-round pick, and that means he has four more years of club control. Adam Thielen is still viewed as their number one option, but when you look at stats both can be viewed at number one receivers.

Dalvin Cook was the league’s second-leading rusher in 2020, behind Derrick Henry. Cook signed a contract extension with the Vikings and will be with them through 2025. Normally paying running backs that kind of money ($12.5 million per year) is viewed as way too much, but without Cook, the Vikings would have to rely on Kirk Cousins to make their offense the way it is. I nothing against Cousins, as he’s a top-half of the league QB, but Cook is the key to that engine.

Looking at Green Bay, they are likely to take a step back in their running game because of salary cap issues. Aaron Jones is going to cost a lot of money, and the Packers will obviously pay Davante Adams over Jones (both are free agents). Running backs can be found anywhere, players like Adams cannot. Their defense can be had, but all of their key pieces will be back in 2022 (Jaire Alexander, Za’Darius Smith, Kenny Clark, Adrian Amos, etc.). They are the best team in the division.

The Lions are going to be a bottom-five team in football next season, presenting perhaps the worst defense in the league. Offensively, things will look much different under Anthony Lynn and Jared Goff. The Bears will not need to worry about Detroit in 2022.

Chicago Bears Bets To Make In 2021

David Montgomery is going to be a household name in 2021. He finished fifth in rushing yards in 2020, perhaps the greatest accomplishment of the year for the Bears. Why? Because for four-five weeks Matt Nagy did not even attempt to run the ball! Somehow, Montgomery figured it out behind a new offensive line and went crazy to end the year.

Not only is he a great back, but he is also one of the best pass-catching backs in the NFL too. He’s no Alvin Kamara, but Bears fans should be as high on him as any player on this team. He’s that good.

Anytime Montgomery TD’s, rushing yard props should be looked at carefully every game. As far as total yards, he should lead the Bears most games in yards from scrimmage.

The other bets depend on the QB position and what happens with Allen Robinson. Due to the number of great defenses, the Bears will face next season, you’ll want to look closely at taking the under on passing yards.

Chicago Bears FAQ Surrounding 2021 Bets

Can The Bears Win The NFC North With Nick Foles As Their Starter?

No, they can’t. Foles is a great backup option, perhaps the best in the league, but he cannot be their starter against the defenses that were listed above because they all display dominant pass rushers (TJ Watt, Shaq Barrett, Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald, etc.). Literally, all of those players are top-10 defensive players from 2020. The Bears need athleticism at the QB position because that is where the NFL is shifting. Take Tom Brady out of the equation because he’s the only outlier (and he’s the greatest of all-time) and you’re left with guys who move the pocket consistently. You can bet on the Bears to make the playoffs, but even that is a risk.

Who Should You Bet On To Be the Bears Starting QB in 2021?

This question, unfortunately, does not have a sure-fire answer. Personally, I would put money on Nick Foles or Derek Carr. There is a chance they land Deshaun Watson, yes, but unfortunately, many NFL insiders believe he will stay put. Dak Prescott would be awesome, but that story has been buried under Watson. Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden wants to build his entire team, and Derek Carr is clearly not his choice at QB. Carr would be a significant and realistic upgrade for the Bears.

Who Do The Bears Need To Pair With David Montgomery Next Year?

It cannot just be Tarik Cohen. Cohen is a nice option to keep the defense on their toes, but he isn’t going to carry an offense if needed to. All good teams have two great options at the running back position. This is a position that you can find guys almost anywhere. For example, look at James Robinson from Illinois State. He had a monster year for the Jaguars and no one even looked at him, as he went undrafted to one of the league’s best runners. Another example would be Phillip Lindsay of the Broncos. Running backs are everywhere. The Bears have no excuse not to find a stud.

My point is the Bears NEED to find another stud to pair with Montgomery. Look at the final four teams in the playoffs this season, and you see they all have two, sometimes three, options at that position. It is so important they figure that out this offseason.

How Much Longer Is Aaron Rodgers Going To Be Playing For The Packers?

Aaron Rodgers is on the back-nine of his career but is still playing at an elite level. The issue is, his organization doesn’t seem to be on the same timeline as him. No matter how many times Packers’ GM Brian Gutekunst says they don’t regret taking Jordan Love in a year that Rodgers had his best season, understand he is lying through his teeth.

Rodgers has been wasted in Green Bay. His legendary career was wasted because of a front office that doesn’t listen to him. Have they given him great talent? Of course, they have. Hiring Matt LeFleur was a great move, drafting Aaron Jones was a great move, drafting Davante Adams was a great move, but regardless they haven’t made the extra moves to give #12 a chance to win it all. For some reason, they refuse to go all in. It makes as much sense as Trubisky being the Bears’ starter in 2021.

Drafting Jordan Love means that he projects to be the starter for Green Bay in 2022. If that’s not the timeline, he will be traded away, similar to what the Patriots did with Jimmy Garoppolo. If he’s traded, that signals that they made a huge mistake. Can they swallow their pride and resign Rodgers long-term? I doubt it.

2021 will be Aaron’s last season in green and gold. Book it. 

What About Kirk Cousins? Will Minnesota Keep Him Around?

The Vikings have the 14th overall pick in this year’s draft. They have a few holes in their secondary, but they may also have the option to take a QB. Cousins is under contract for two more seasons and I would expect him to stick around for both. He may even get an extension. The Vikings have a team that should be ready to win, but they just haven’t been able to get it together. A rookie QB is not the answer to that equation. The Vikings will be in the playoff picture in 2021, regarding any significant injury.

When Can You Bet On The Bears To Be In Super Bowl Contention?

If they get Deshaun Watson, next season. If not, it will likely take about three-four years to rebuild the defense, develop a QB, and give the new head coach a chance to figure it out. This offseason is more important than any offseason the Bears have had in a very long time. They have a chance to put themselves right back into the thick of things if they can get the QB position right. They have plenty of options to do that. Now it’s all about execution from Ryan Pace.

If they fumble the chance on a franchise QB, the new timeline begins. The Bears will need to look at trading Eddie Jackson, Akiem Hicks, and Kyle Fuller while searching for a new head coach and general manager. In other words, if they don’t get a QB in the next few months, it’s going to be a complete and utter mess at Halas Hall for the next few seasons.

What Are The Odds The Bears Get A New GM/Head Coach In 2022?

While there are no official odds for this yet, hypothetically they have to be fairly high. The Bears are in such a bad spot and everyone knows it. They need a miracle to get back to a perennial playoff team. That miracle being Deshaun Watson. However, the fact that they have to hang their hats on a miracle just shows how poorly they’ve been run over the last ten seasons. It’s truly embarrassing and sad. The new cycle is likely to kickoff following this season.

What Are The Odds The Bears Use Their 2020 Draft Pick On A QB?

I would say pretty high, considering they need an answer. They also need linemen, and with the 20th overall pick it’s likely that is the route they will take should they choose not to move up. Honestly, that is the best move for this team. Over the last few weeks of the year, Whitehair and Mustipher figured something out. With James Daniels coming back, the Bears can solidify their line with one more guy. That would be massive, especially if Foles starts for them next year.