2024 NFL London Games: A Glimpse at the Chicago Bears vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Matchup

Overview of the Upcoming Game

As we head into Week 6 of the NFL season, the Chicago Bears (3-2), riding high on a three-game winning streak, are gearing up to face the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This matchup is part of the 2024 NFL London Games series. The Jacksonville Jaguars, having a challenging start to the season, will have to contend with the increasingly competent Caleb Williams of the Bears. The betting line for this game started at Bears -2, but as we approach Sunday, it has been adjusted to -1. The London clash is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET with a total score prediction of 44.5.

What Do the Odds Say?

Spread: Bears -1
Money line: Bears (-120), Jaguars (Even)
Over/Under: 44.5
First half spread: Bears -0.5 (+105), Jaguars +0.5 (-130)
First half money line: Bears (-120), Jaguars (-105)
Bears total points: 22.5 (Over -115/Under -115)
Jaguars total points: 21.5 (Over -115/Under -115)

Key Player Stats and Predictions

Passing

Caleb Williams Total Passing Yards: 249.5 (Over +105/Under -135)
Williams Total Passing TDs: 1.5 (Over +105/Under -135)
Trevor Lawrence Total Passing Yards: 224.5 (Over -135/Under +105)
Lawrence Total Passing TDs: 1.5 (Over +115/Under -145)

Rushing

D’Andre Swift Total Rushing Yards: 49.5 (Over -105/Under -125)
Travis Etienne Jr. Total Rushing Yards: 44.5 (Over -135/Under +105)
Tank Bigsby Total Rushing Yards: 39.5 (Over -135/Under +105)
Roschon Johnson Total Rushing Yards: 24.5 (Over -120/Under -110)
Williams Total Rushing Yards: 19.5 (Over -120/Under -110)

Receiving

DJ Moore Total Receiving Yards: 69.5 (Over Even/Under -130)
Brian Thomas Jr. Total Receiving Yards: 59.5 (Over Even/Under -130)
Christian Kirk Total Receiving Yards: 44.5 (Over -125/Under -105)
Keenan Allen Total Receiving Yards: 44.5 (Over -115/Under -115)
Evan Engram Total Receiving Yards: 39.5 (Over -110/Under -120)
Rome Odunze Total Receiving Yards: 39.5 (Over -125/Under -105)
Gabe Davis Total Receiving Yards: 29.5 (Over -120/Under -110)
Cole Kmet Total Receiving Yards: 29.5 (Over -135/Under +105)
Swift Total Receiving Yards: 19.5 (Over -135/Under +105)
Etienne Jr. Total Receiving Yards: 19.5 (Over +105/Under -135)

Game Predictions

My bets are on DJ Moore achieving over 60 receiving yards. He reasons that the Jaguars’ defense has been consistently outmaneuvered by opposing wide receivers. This trend, combined with the increasing synergy between Williams and his top receiver, makes this a reasonable bet.

My assistant, on the other hand, predicts that Trevor Lawrence will fall short of 224.5 passing yards. Despite Lawrence’s impressive performance against the Colts last week, Moody anticipates a more challenging game this time around.

Bears vs Jaguars: An Uphill Battle for Jacksonville’s Offense

In his recent performance, the Jaguars’ quarterback experienced minimal pressure, with only 12 out of 49 dropbacks facing any sort of opposition. His next challenge? The Bears, a team standing strong at second in pass rush win rate, with a secondary allowing a mere 174.0 passing yards per game. From week 1 to 4, Lawrence’s average stands at 182.2 yards. This game could pose a formidable test for the Jacksonville quarterback, as he squares off against the most formidable defense secondary he’s encountered so far.

Match Analysis: Jaguars vs Bears

Fresh off their first victory in Week 5 against the Colts, the Jacksonville offense continues to grapple with consistency. The upcoming game sees them up against the Bears’ formidable defense, which ranks seventh in total yards allowed and is joint fifth in points conceded per game.

On the other side, Chicago’s Caleb Williams shows promising growth. He’s managed to throw for over 300 yards in two of his last three games, demonstrating enhanced skills against the blitz and in deep throws (15-plus air yards).

Betting Trends

In their last 11 games, the Jaguars have a 3-8 record against the spread, while the Bears boast an 8-3-1 ATS in their past 12 games. The Bears have successfully covered five consecutive games as favorites, marking a 3-0 ATS this season. This is the first instance of the Bears being favored in a game outside of Chicago since 2021, with a -2.5 at Lions in Week 12. Under Matt Eberflus, the Bears’ ATS record stands at 2-10-1 when the line is between +3 and -3. The past five London games have all fallen under the total.