Rookie QB Anthony Richardson Gives It Another Go | Bears vs. Colts | OSB
2023 NFL Preseason: Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts
By Sam Batz
When: Saturday, August 19th at 7:00 PM EST
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium
Watch On: *ABC/*CBS/*FOX/*NBC/NFL Network (*depending on area)
Matchup: Chicago Bears vs. Indianapolis Colts
The NFL preseason continues this weekend and on Saturday, August 19th the Chicago Bears will travel to Indiana to take on the Indianapolis Colts for a Week 3 preseason matchup. The preseason is designed to give teams the chance to tune up before the regular season, as well as to give young/unknown players an opportunity to earn a roster spot. Superstars and veterans rarely see the field, as the risk of injury is too high, and teams instead lean on their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th string players to carry the team in the preseason. But don’t let that take away from the entertainment, as many of these players are looking to make a 53-man roster, and give these games their full effort.
The Chicago Bears (+4.5; +185)
The Bears are looking to bounce back after a less than ideal season last year. Chicago finished last in the NFC North with an abysmal 3-14 record, but added several new players that could make all the difference. QB Justin Fields was a breakout star last season, throwing for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 1,143 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Bears shored up the offensive line and added new wideout weapons with DJ Moore and Chase Claypool, who should provide Fields the support on the outside that was desperately lacking last season.
The Bears won their opening preseason game 23-17 over the Tennessee Titans. Chicago Head Coach Matt Eberflus is undefeated in the preseason with a 4-0 record, and will look to extend that streak on Saturday. Eberflus looks like a man who loves to win, and he even let Fields play a few snaps, where the Bears budding star went 3/3 for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns. Eberflus wants his starters to get touches, and if he follows that strategy again on Saturday, the Bears will win easily.
The Indianapolis Colts (-4.5; -225)
The Colts had a rough season last year. Veteran Matt Ryan had the worst performance of his career, as the 38-year old QB looked slow, stiff, and stagnant behind Indy’s swiss cheese offensive line. The Colts finished 3rd in the AFC South with a 4-12 record with the Falcons old QB at the helm, but it wasn’t all Matt Ryan’s fault, as the Indianapolis front office fired Head Coach Frank Reich halfway through the season, and replaced him with former Colts Center Jeff Saturday, despite Saturday having never held a coaching role of any kind in the NFL or College. It was a tumultuous year for the Colts, but with a new rookie QB under center, Indy’s future could be great.
The Colts drafted Florida QB Anthony Richardson with the 4th-overall pick in the 2023 draft, and Indy has announced that Richardson will be their starting QB this season. The 21-year old rookie played his first preseason game on Saturday, August 12th but did not have the triumphant start many Colts fans were hoping for. Richardson went 7/12 for 67 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 1 interception, and scrambled twice for 7 yards. Richardson has a lot to learn, and he certainly didn’t look regular season ready, but he gets another shot on Saturday to prove he has what it takes.
Bears vs. Colts: Odds
Team | Spread | Total (O/U) | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
Chicago Bears | +4.5 (-110) | Ov 37.5 (-110) | +185 |
Indianapolis Colts | -4.5 (-110) | Un 37.5 (-110) | -225 |
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Bears vs. Colts: Preseason Stats
Chicago Bears (1-0) 337 237 100 6.4 53 13 4/12 1/1 4 2 7 (55) 2 1 27:08 | Stat Type Total Yards Passing Yards Rushing Yards Yards Per Play Total Plays First Downs 3rd Down Efficiency 4th Down Efficiency Punts Sacks Allowed Penalties (Yards) Fumbles Lost Interceptions Times of Possession | Indianapolis Colts (0-1) 289 193 96 4.7 53 23 5/10 0/2 2 3 4 (48) 0 1 29:31 |
Bears vs. Colts Prediction
Take the Bears over the Colts on Saturday. The preseason is never easy to predict because we never know who is going to play, but even if the Colts go with their starters in the first quarter, the Bears still might be better with their second unit. Indy is a young, inexperienced team, which is exactly what the preseason is for, and while the athletic ability is there, the NFL intelligence has yet to form for many of the young Colts, most notably their new quarterback.
Indy’s new head coach, Shane Steichen, has a big task ahead of him trying to stabilize the chaotic Colts, but as a former quarterback coach and offensive coordinator, Steichen could be the perfect man for the job. But the cobwebs and growing pains are still being shaken off in Indianapolis, and Chiaco will stomp the Colts on Saturday.
Prediction: Chicago Bears Moneyline (+185)
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