by Rod Pearson
Friday, Dec 22, 2023
Game Time: 4:25 pm ET, Sunday, December 24, 2023
Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Where to Watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Point Spread: Cardinals +4, Bears -4; Over/Under: 43 points
Bet365: Point Spread: Cardinals +4, Bears -4; Over/Under: 43 points
BetMGM: Point Spread: Cardinals +4, Bears -4; Over/Under: 43.5 points
Season Record
Arizona Cardinals: 3-11 (4th place, NFC West)
Chicago Bears: 5-9 (4th place, NFC North)
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Arizona Cardinals: lost their last game at home against the San Francisco 49ers 45-29.
Chicago Bears: lost their last game on the road against the Cleveland Browns 20-17.
Arizona Cardinals vs Chicago Bears Preview and Analysis
The Cardinals are entering this game with a 3-11 record overall and they have a 0-5 record in their divisional games too. They are 2-5 in their home games, 1-6 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They lost their last game against the San Francisco 49ers 45-29. Kyler Murray was the starting QB and he completed 26/39 passes for 211 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. James Conner led the team in rushing yards with 86 and 1 TD. Trey McBride led the receivers with 102 receiving yards on 10 receptions. Jalen Thompson led the defense in that game with 5 solo tackles and 1 assisted tackle while no one on the defense recorded a sack in that one. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that game.
The Bears are entering this game with a 5-9 record overall and they have a 2-3 record in their divisional games too. They are 3-3 in their home games, 2-6 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They lost their last game against the Cleveland Browns 20-17. Justin Fields was the starting QB and he completed 19/40 passes for 166 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Roschon Johnson led the team in rushing yards with 36. D. J. Moore led the receivers with 52 receiving yards on 4 receptions. Kyler Gordon led the defense in that game with 6 solo tackles and 1 assisted tackle while Montez Sweat led the defense in sacks with 2.5. Tremaine Edmunds, Tyrique Stevenson, and Eddie Jackson each came away with 1 interception for them in that game.
Cardinals vs Bears Prediction
The current betting odds have the Cardinals listed as a 4 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Cardinals have looked terrible this season with their 3-11 record overall but they have been starting to look a lot better in their games lately. The games aren't always translating into wins but they have definitely looked like a better team since Kyler Murray returned. They did lose last week in a blowout to the 49ers but they did put up 29 points against one of the best teams in the NFL which is something for them to build on here. The Bears haven't looked that great this season either with their 5-9 record overall. They have also dealt with QB injuries this season and have been in a similar boat with Fields looking a lot better since making his return from injury, but the Bears still have one of the worst teams in the NFL like the Cardinals and as good as the Bears looked last week against the Browns, they still blew their lead and lost in the end. As good as the Bears have looked at times, they are at risk of losing this game against the Cardinals and even if they do pull it out on their home field, they still aren't winning this game by more than a field goal. The best way to place a bet here is on the Cardinals to cover the spread in this game.
Cardinals Bears Prediction: Our NFL Pick for Sunday, December 24, 2023 (4:25 pm ET start time) is Cardinals 28 Bears 20.
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NFL Betting Trends
Arizona Cardinals: 13-3 ATS as a road underdog of 7 points or less. 29-14 ATS after allowing 7 or more yards/play in their previous game. 6-1 UNDER as a road underdog. 12-3 UNDER off a home loss. 9-5 UNDER after allowing 30 points or more last game.
Chicago Bears: 17-28 ATS in all games. 9-16 ATS in all games where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points. 4-13 ATS after gaining 150 or less passing yards in the last game. 25-17 UNDER in a home game where the total is between 42.5 and 45 points. 26-17 UNDER after allowing 50 or less rushing yards last game.
Key Injuries
Arizona Cardinals: M. Brown (WR) Out Sun - Heel. J. Woods (LB) I-R - Abdominal. K. Strong (DL) Ques Sun - Knee. A. Hamilton Sr. (CB) Ques Sun - Calf. A. Chachere (S) Ques Sun - Shoulder. G. Williams (CB) Ques Sun - Knee. V. Dimukeje (LB) Ques Sun - Foot. G. Swaim (TE) I-R - Calf. G. Dortch (WR) Ques Sun - Shoulder. B. Price (CB) Ques Sun - Undisclosed. T. Smith (LB) Ques Sun - Personal. K. White (LB) I-R - Bicep. L. Fotu (DT) Out indefinitely - Hand. C. Watkins (DT) Out indefinitely - Bicep. L. Collier (DL) Out indefinitely - Bicep. J. Gaines II (OL) I-R - Knee. P. Elflein (OL) I-R - Undisclosed. R. Fenton (CB) I-R - Undisclosed. M. Mack (RB) I-R - Achilles. M. Hembrough (LS) I-R - Back.
Chicago Bears: D. Walker (DL) Ques Sun - Shin. C. Kmet (TE) Ques Sun - Thigh. D. Foreman (RB) Ques Sun - Personal. J. Jones (DB) Ques Sun - Calf. T. Homer (RB) Ques Sun - Hamstring. D. Mooney (WR) Ques Sun - Illness. E. St. Brown (WR) Ques Sun - Pectoral. N. Sewell (LB) Ques Sun - Knee. T. Jenkins (OL) Ques Sun - Knee. Y. Ngakoue (DL) I-R - Ankle.
Notable Quotes
“We’ve got to play cleaner than that to play a really good football team. We hung in, it kind of got away from us at the end. I appreciate the effort.” - Jonathan Gannon after his team’s loss against the 49ers in their last game.
“It’s tough and crazy. How many times do you see that Hail Mary work and actually be able to maybe catch it?” - Darnell Mooney after their loss against the Browns in their last game.
Starting Lineups
Arizona Cardinals
WR Brown, Marquise
WR Wilson, Michael
WR Moore, Rondale
TE McBride, Trey
QB Murray, Kyler
RB Conner, James
Chicago Bears
WR Moore, DJ
WR St. Brown, Equanimeous
WR Mooney, Darnell
TE Kmet, Cole
QB Fields, Justin
RB Foreman, D'Onta
FB Blasingame, Khari
Statistical Leaders
Arizona Cardinals
Passing: K. Murray (1075)
Rushing: J. Conner (717)
Receiving: T. McBride (712)
Touchdowns: J. Conner (5)
Chicago Bears
Passing: J. Fields (1976)
Rushing: J. Fields (488)
Receiving: D. Moore (1123)
Touchdowns: D. Moore (8)
Coaches:
Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon (1st season)
Chicago Bears: Matt Eberflus (2nd season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
