NFL Preview & Predictions: Chicago Bears vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Kris [email protected] December 28, 2020 | 06:04

NFL Preview: The Chicago Bears (7-7) are on the road this week to face the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-13) from TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. Below, we preview the Bears-Jaguars betting odds and lines and make our NFL picks and predictions.

NFL Preview & Predictions: Chicago Bears vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Photo: The Streamable

Chicago Bears vs Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Broadcast

Date: Sunday, December 27

Game Time: 1:00 ET

Venue: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL

Network: CBS

Jaguars vs. Bears Odds

Photo: Action Network

According to Action Network, the Chicago Bears (7-7) have won two games in a row after a brutal six-loss streak and sit just one game behind the Arizona Cardinals (8-6) for the final playoff spot.

The Bears now travel to Jacksonville to take on a Jaguars team on a 13-loss streak with the inside track to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

This should be an easy Chicago win, but will the Bears cover?

Chicago Bears (7-7) vs Jacksonville Jaguars (1-13) Game Preview

Why Jacksonville Jaguars Will Win

It’s Mike Glennon vs. his old team. Oh, it’s on.

The Jaguars have faltered lately with two straight blowout losses, but in general, the running game is solid and Glennon really wasn’t that bad when he got his chances for a few games.

Chicago might be playing better, but the downfield passing game has struggled and there are way too many empty drives. This is still a Bear team that needs everything to go right.

Why Chicago Bears Will Win

According to College Football News, the running game continues to work. The team that use didn’t want to get the ground attack going for way too long a stretch during the year – failing to hit 100 yards in seven straight games – has been amazing on the ground getting better in each of the last five games yardage-wise.

Jacksonville’s defence has been a disaster against the run over the last several games, allowing 145 yards or more in each of the last four and over 200 to Cleveland and Tennessee.

The Bears aren’t going to get cute. Run, don’t take chances, and keep handing it off to …

Fantasy Football Player To Watch

RB David Montgomery, Chicago

David Montgomery is Chicago's most prized acquisition of the 2019 offseason. Photo: NFL Spin Zone

The idea of starting a Chicago running back in your fantasy playoffs would’ve been unthinkable a few weeks ago, but Montgomery is a must-play this week against this Jaguar D. He has five touchdowns in his last three games and over 100 yards in three of his last four. Now he’s going against the NFL’s third-worst run D.

What’s Going To Happen

Chicago is still pushing for a playoff spot, but after Arizona lost to San Francisco, it has a real shot now as long as it wins this and then gets by Green Bay next week. Part One won’t be too much of an issue against a Jacksonville team that has Trevor Lawrence RIGHT THERE with just two more losses.

The Bears aren’t going to – and least they had better not – lose to Mike Glennon.

Final Analysis

The Jaguars won the last meeting between these teams back in 2016, but the Bears are 4-3 all-time against them and they are 4-3 on the road this season. Chicago's victory over Houston two weeks ago snapped a six-game losing streak to AFC South teams. The Bears have a shot at finishing .500 against the division with a win on Sunday, Athlon Sports cites.

On the other side, Jacksonville is 0-3 against the NFC North thus far but did push the Vikings to overtime three weeks ago. The Jags' win over Chicago back in '16 was their last win against the "Black and Blue" division, and they've gone 0-5 since then. Jacksonville hasn't defeated any NFC team since taking down the New York Giants in their season opener back in 2018 (0-12 since then). There's no reason to expect this trend to change not with the Bears very much alive in the playoff hunt while the Jaguars have more incentive to keep losing at this point.

Line Prediction: Bears 24, Jaguars 13