A battle of two 1-1 teams will face off on Saturday, as the Buffalo Bills travel to Chicago to take on the Bears in the final game of their NFL preseason.  

The Buffalo Bills have been one of the most talented teams over the past two seasons in the NFL finishing with a record of 11-6 and 13-3 in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The Bills also have one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL with Josh Allen who has gone from being questioned as to whether or not he had what it takes to make it in the NFL to becoming a perennial Pro Bowl player making the NFL Pro Bowl two of the last three years including last season. 

The expectations are high for the Buffalo Bills once again this season as they enter with the 4^th best odds to win the Super Bowl and the 2^nd best odds to win the AFC only behind the Kansas City Chiefs while also having an over/under win total of 10.5 wins.

The Chicago Bears meanwhile have missed the playoffs in each of the previous two seasons but are an up-and-coming team in the NFL with Justin Fields at quarterback who will need to show improvement as a passer this season to get over the hump of being good to becoming great. The Bears had one of the worst wide receiver groups last season which hindered Fields as a passer, however, Chicago was able to add talent to the group in the offseason by D.J. Moore. 

The Bears are still a year or two away from being a true contender in the NFC, however, I foresee them getting over 7.5 wins that Vegas has set entering the year.

BookMaker has the Chicago Bears listed as 2-point favorites at home against the Buffalo Bills in week 3 of the preseason. Neither team has had much separation in the season over the last eight games as the Bears and Bills have gone 4-4 in those matchups. However, the Bills have had the upper hand over the last three games going 2-1 while also going 2-1 ATS in those contests.

Buffalo has split their first two games in the preseason winning in week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts at home and losing on the road by a score of 15-27 in week 2 of the preseason. Buffalo has looked above average offensively despite only averaging 19 points per game this preseason. The Bills are averaging 343.5 total yards, 281.5 passing yards, and 77 rushing yards per game. 

Matt Barkley leads the team in passing completing 21 of 27 attempts for 265 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Jordan Mims leads the team in rushing with 11 carries for 47 yards and a touchdown. Andy Isabella leads the team in receiving with four receptions for 61 yards.

Like the Buffalo Bills, the Chicago Bears are 1-1 in the preseason after winning in week 1 against the Tennessee Titans the Bears fell to the Indianapolis Colts on the road in week 2 by a score of 17-24. Nathan Peterman led the team in passing completing 10 of 18 attempts for 115 yards and a touchdown. Robert Burns led the team in rushing with eight carries for 40 yards. Daurice Fountain led the team in receiving, catching five of six targets for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Buffalo enters the season with higher expectations and is the more talented team while also being the better team most recently in the series, winning two of the last three games while going 2-1 ATS in those contests.  I look for the Bills to finish the preseason off with a win and a cover which is why I am taking the Buffalo Bills +2 on BookMaker for this matchup on Saturday.