NFL Week 3: Monday Picks
The NFL's latest offering of Monday Night Football has all the makings of being a similar level to last week. Much as last week we have a matchup between a side expected to be among the playoffs come the end of the year (Chicago Bears) heading on the road to face a team widely expected to be bottom-10 in the league (Washington Redskins). Will we see a repeat of last weeks blowout or will we get a close Monday Night Football game?
Chicago Bears @ Washington Redskins
FedEX field, 8:15pm ET Monday September 23rd, 2019
1u – Chicago Bears -4 @ -110
- The Washington Redskins are a nightmarish 2-12 on MNF since 2010 and 0-2 ATS in night games since the start of last season.
- The Bears have performed well in night games under Matt Nagy and are 4-1 ATS playing in prime time slots the last two years.
The Redskins offense has demonstrated some promise this year against both the Cowboys and Eagles. However, this will be a completely different test against one of the best defenses in the NFL in the Chicago Bears. Khalil Mack and the Bears defensive line should have a field day rushing against a Redskins offensive line lacking Trent Williams at left tackle. This will be a huge test of this young Redskins offense and one I am expecting them to struggle in.
The problem here is that the Bears offense has looked awful the first two weeks of the year. However, this could be a chance for a “get right” game against a Redskins defense that has shipped over 30 points in both of their first two games. The numbers in the last year and a bit are also on the Bears side as they are 10-3 ATS when facing NFC teams, 8-4 ATS coming off a win and 9-6 ATS as favorites
1u – Under 41 Total Points @ -110
- The Bears offense is averaging a measly 9.5 points per game so far this season
- The Bears defense has allowed an average of 12 points per game in the first two weeks
As I talked above this is a game between a surprisingly hot offense and one of the best defenses in the league. It is also a contest between a leaky defense and a woeful offense. On each side you would expect one of those things has to give. My expectations is that what gives here is the Redskins offense, as they have not faced an offense of the depth of talent that the Bears have. I do expect the Bears offense to have their best output of the day, but that is unlikely to suddenly result in them scoring 30-pus points. This game has the feel of a 24-10 type game and the under hitting with reasonable comfort.