The New York Giants and Chicago Bears are set to face off this weekend in what should end up being a down-to-the-wire battle with significant intrigue.
Chicago enters Week 2 with a 1-0 record after upsetting the Detroit Lions last week. The Giants, meanwhile, are 0-1 but put up a solid Monday night showing against the Pittsburgh Steelers before ultimately falling short.
The Bears lead the all-time series between these two teams, 29-21-2. They also won the last matchup (Nov. 24, 2019), though New York has won two of the last three.
After passing for 279 yards and two scores last week, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is aiming for his fourth straight week with at least 275 passing yards. Wide receiver Darius Slayton, who stood out last week with six catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns, is also aiming for an achievement of his own as he looks for his fifth game in a row with at least five receptions.
It will be essential to watch Saquon Barkley this week as he goes up against a defensive front that could be without Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack. (Even if they do play, this duo likely won’t be 100 percent.) Barkley was immensely held in check by Pittsburgh’s dominant defensive line last week so he’ll certainly be looking to turn his woes around this week against Chicago.
Defensively, New York opposed Pittsburgh in a solid fashion. They allowed 26 points but kept their team in the game, frequently getting the ball back for their offense. Linebacker Markus Golden had a tackle for last week and sacked Mitchell Trubisky last time the Giants faced Chicago. Golden is aiming for his fifth consecutive road game with at least one sack. Meanwhile, cornerback James Bradberry forced a fumble and defended two passes in New York’s Week 1 win. Against Chicago this week, he’ll be aiming for his third straight game with at least two passes defended.
On the other side of the field, Mitch Trubisky tossed for 242 yards and three touchdowns against Detroit last week. Running back David Montgomery added 74 scrimmage yards in the win, marking his fourth game of 50-plus yards in the past five weeks. He is due to have a big game against a weak New York line that struggled to contain Pittsburgh running backs last week. Allen Robinson also added 74 yards and is looking to post another solid week despite a dramatic week of alleged trade requests and rumors.
Defensively, Khalil Mack is aiming for both his fourth straight home game and fourth straight game against the Giants with a sack. Last time he opposed New York, he tallied three sacks, two fumbles forced, and two fumble recoveries. Meanwhile, linebacker Danny Trevathan is looking for his fourth straight game against the Giants with at least 10 tackles.
Game Info
Date: Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020
Start Time: 12:00 p.m. CT
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Stadium: Soldier Field
TV Info: CBS
Betting Odds Sponsored by Jazz Sportsbook
Point Spread: NYG +5.5 (-110) | CHI -5.5 (+110)
Moneyline: NYG +200 | CHI -245
Over/Under: O 42 (-110) | U 42 (-110)
Not only will New York cover, but they should also win outright, making them the easy favorite in regards to the spread. The over/under is a bit more confusing at 42. That’s not an incredibly high number for two teams to shoot for, but it’s also hard to imagine these offenses entering into a shootout. The under is the right choice here, though it will be very close.
Prediction
The Giants lost last week but still looked really good. Chicago also impressed, but they likely would not have won if Kenny Golladay was active, Jamie Collins had not been ejected, and D’Andre Swift had caught that late-game pass in the end zone. If Daniel Jones can remain composed and get some sort of assistance from his offensive line, the Giants should be able to pull out the victory on the road.
*Final: New York Giants 21, Chicago Bears 18*
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