The New England Patriots will look to extend their win streak to three with Bailey Zappe under center.
Can they pull off the home win against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football? Let’s see what the NFL odds tell us at the top sportsbooks!
Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots
Monday, October 24, 2022, 8:15 PM ET at Gillette Stadium
We’re not going to get the most exciting matchup on Monday Night Football. But it’s football nonetheless.
The Chicago Bears will take on the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium, and they will be looking to extend their two-game winning streak.
The Bears only scored seven points in Thursday’s game against Washington last week. They had a chance to earn a win in the red zone but couldn’t convert a touchdown in the final minute of the game.
How Did The Patriots Do Last Week?
Meanwhile, the Patriots are red-hot over the last two games with Bailey Zappe under center. New England has outscored their last two opponents by a combined score of 67-15.
Zappe has been tremendous for the Patriots. Now some fans are calling for Zappe to get the starts over Mac Jones when Jones returns. Jones is close to returning but it’s likely that Zappe will get the start on Monday.
Of course, things can change, especially with an extra day of rest. But for now, we’re going to talk about this game as if Zappe is the starter for the Patriots.
Here are our picks and predictions for Monday’s game between the New England Patriots vs. Chicago Bears.
When The Patriots Have the Ball
Again, we’re going to write this article as if Zappe will get the start. Some would say he brings more to the table. Either way, the Patriots have averaged 367.8 yards per game and are in a groove offensively.
They’re doing this without Damien Harris at running back and without Mac Jones at quarterback. Jakobi Meyers has also been hurt throughout the year.
The Patriots’ Offense
Zappe has enjoyed an offensive line that has protected him well. Zappe led college football in passing touchdowns last year with Western Kentucky. If he’s got time in the pocket, he’ll make great reads and we’ve seen that already. But mainly, it’s the running game keeping things balanced.
Rhomandre Stevenson and Harris have helped the Patriots rush for 131.3 yards per game. For now, Harris is injured and out. Stevenson will be the main bell cow, but Harris could end up playing this week against the Bears.
The Bears have allowed 163 yards per game on the ground this season. If anything, the coverage in the passing game has been better, as they’ve allowed just 190.5 yards per game in the air.
So while we continue to kill the Bears and their defense, we also have to remember that they’ve only allowed 19.7 points per game. I’m just not sure that’s sustainable with the way that they’ve played.
When The Bears Have the Ball
The Chicago offense has scored just 15.5 points per game this season. Justin Fields has yet to surpass 1000 yards passing, and he might not even get there against the Patriots through six and potentially seven games. He’s thrown five interceptions and four touchdowns on the year.
He’s been more of a threat in the run game, and who could blame him? The pass protection has been weak and he’s got a limited amount of reliable receivers. The Patriots haven’t been perfect defensively, especially in the run game. The Bears won’t have much success in the passing game.
But if the Bears commit to the run behind David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert, along with Fields, the offense should be able to put up more than seven points in this game.
How Can They Beat The Patriots?
The Patriots defense has looked very disciplined due to a few missed tackles. New England has a solid pass rush and a secondary that has played above-average to begin the year.
Still, the run defense, as I mentioned earlier, hasn’t been great. That’s an area where the Bears can exploit the Patriots.
Prediction & Pick
With Bailey Zappe under center, the Patriots should be able to get whatever they want offensively. The Bears can’t continue to play this poorly and keep teams to under 20 points per game. That’s just not going to continue.
Meanwhile, the Bears need to make some adjustments, and I think they will. Seven points against the Commanders is inexcusable.
Chicago scored 22 against Minnesota and 23 against Houston earlier this year. They’re capable of scoring points, but the run game has to get working first, and against the Patriots, it will.
Let’s take the Over 39.5 for Monday Night Football. We’re going to get some excitement in MNF with enough offense to keep everyone happy.
NFL Pick: Over 39.5 (-110) at BetMGM
