Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/18/2018

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Mile High Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Chicago Bears head to Mile High Stadium to play the Denver Broncos on Saturday, August 18, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 2.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 39.5. The Bears were 8-7-1 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 4-12-0. The Broncos were 4-11-1 against the spread and their over/under mark was 8-8-0.

Valuable Chicago Bears Betting Trends

The Chicago Bears were 4-12-0 against the over/under last season

The Chicago Bears were 8-7-1 against the spread last year

Important Denver Broncos Betting Trends

The Denver Broncos were 8-8-0 against the over/under last season

The Denver Broncos were 4-11-1 against the spread last year

Key Chicago Bears Injuries

08/03/18 TE Zach Miller Knee is out for season

Key Denver Broncos Injuries

08/03/18 WR Carlos Henderson Personal is out indefinitely
08/03/18 WR Jordan Taylor Hip PUP
07/23/18 LB Shane Ray Wrist is "?" Sunday vs Seattle

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Chicago Bears were 29th in the National Football League in points scored with 264 last year. They ran 934 plays for 4,599 yards, which ranked them 30th in the NFL in total offense. The Bears averaged 4.9 yards per play, which was 26th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 266 1st downs last season, ranking them 32nd overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Chicago ran for 1,788 yards as a unit, which ranked 16th in the league. They ran 422 times, averaging 4.2 yards per rush as a unit. The Bears were penalized on offense 115 times for 943 yards last year, which had them 8th in the NFL in penalties. Mitch Trubisky passed for 2,193 yards last year. He completed 196 throws while attempting 330 passes for a completion percentage of 59.4%. His quarterback rating last season was 77.5. He averaged 11.2 yards per completion and 6.6 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Chicago was 9th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 320. They gave up a total of 5,106 yards on D, which was 10th in the league. The Bears were 12th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense allowed 5.9 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 13th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 343 throws on 529 attempts against the Chicago Bears defense last season, ranking them 17th and 10th in the league. The Chicago pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,376 yards in the air, which was 7th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 432 attempts for 1,730 yards last season, putting them in 11th place in the NFL against the run. The Bears had 118 penalties for 910 yards on defense last year. That placed them 17th in the league. They allowed a score on 33.1% of possessions on defense, which was 13th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Chicago was 20th in the NFL in punt returns with 32 last year. They totaled 337 punt return yards and averaged 10.5 yards per return, which was 3rd in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 61 yards. They returned 46 kicks for 969 yards on special teams, placing them 4th in kick return yardage. The Bears averaged 21.1 yards per kick return and had a long of 46 yards last season. They were 26th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,179. The Chicago Bears tried 22 field goals last season and made 16, which was 30th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 72.7%. Chicago Bears kickers made 93% of their extra points, going 26 for 28 last season. Their punters accumulated 4,087 yards on 87 punts, averaging 47 yards per punt. That ranked them 7th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Denver Broncos ran for 1,852 yards as a team last year, which ranked 12th in the NFL. They ran 457 times, averaging 4.1 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Broncos were penalized on offense 113 times for 885 yards last season, which had them 10th in the league in penalties. They were 27th in the NFL in points scored with 289. They ran 1,075 plays last season for 5,185 yards, which ranked them 18th in the league in total offense. The Broncos averaged 4.8 yards per play, which was 29th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 297 1st downs last year, placing them 20th overall as an offensive unit. Case Keenum averaged 7.4 yards per pass attempt and 10.9 yards per completion last season. He completed 325 passes on 481 attempts for a completion percentage of 67.6%. His quarterback rating last year was 98.3. He threw for 3,547 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Broncos rush defense allowed 428 attempts for 1,430 yards last year, putting them in 5th place in the league against the run. Denver committed 89 penalties for 821 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 4th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 32.5% of possessions on defense, which was 12th in the league. They were 23rd in the league in points allowed on defense with 382. They surrendered a total of 4,640 yards on D, which was 3rd in the NFL. The Broncos were ranked 3rd in yards per play allowed with 4.9. Their pass defense gave up 6.1 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 18th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 294 passes on 491 attempts against the Denver defense last season, placing them 2nd and 1st in the National Football League. The Denver Broncos pass defense also gave up a total of 3,210 yards through the air, which was 4th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Denver Broncos attempted 32 field goals last season and made 24, which was 20th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 75.0%. Denver kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 27 for 27 last year. Their punters totaled 3,358 yards on 76 punts, averaging 44.2 yards per punt. That placed them 23rd in the NFL in punting average. Denver was ranked 3rd in the league in punt returns last season with 41. They accumulated 351 punt return yards and averaged 8.6 yards per return, which was 15th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 44 yards. They returned 34 kicks for 743 yards on special teams, ranking 12th in kick return yardage. The Broncos averaged 21.9 yards per kick return and had a long of 61 yards last year. They were 15th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,614.

Who will win tonight's Bears/Broncos NFL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Broncos -2.5

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