The Buffalo Bills (0-1) and Chicago Bears (0-0-1) will face off in NFL Preseason Week 2. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 16, from Soldier Field. The game will be broadcast on FOX.
The Bears are favored by -2.5 with the game total set at 41.5 (-110o / -110u). The Bears are -150 favorites to win outright, while the Bills are +125 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Bills vs Bears predictions and NFL picks.
Bills vs Bears Odds
| Bills Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -105 | 41.5 -105o / -115u | +125 |
| Bears Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -115 | 41.5 -105o / -115u | -150 |
- Bills vs Bears spread: Bears -2.5 (-115 ), Bills +2.5 (-105)
- Bills vs Bears over/under: 41.5 (-110o / -115u)
- Bills vs Bears moneyline: Bills +125, Bears -150
- Bills vs Bears best bet: Bears -2.5
MyBills vs. Bears best bet is on the Bears to cover the spread, with the best odds currently available at BetMGM. For all of your NFL bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NFL odds page.
Bills vs Bears NFL Preseason Week 2 Preview
The Bills and Bears meet at Soldier Field on Sunday in what will be an important game for Chicago. Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams has struggled in training camp and is under scrutiny early.
The Bills go into this as 2.5-point underdogs, with the line moving one point from 1.5 upon opening.
Heading into this game, the real story around the Bills has been at quarterback, and that’s something that feeds into this game.
Firstly, there’s Josh Allen — Buffalo’s franchise QB yet to play in the preseason. Historically, we’ve seen Allen suit up ahead of the season, but there’s reason to believe that it might not happen in 2025.
When asked about Allen playing, we got a robust answer from Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who stated, “Yeah, I would love to, if you could put him in a bubble, that would guarantee me that he wasn’t going to get hurt.”
Given that he had time with his pass-catchers in joint practice this week, it makes sense to keep him out of harm’s way.
Allen being sidelined also gives McDermott more of a chance to look at both Mitch Trubisky and Mike White, who are locked in a battle to be Allen’s backup this season.
It’s been reported that neither excelled in Friday’s joint practice, and the race seems neck-and-neck. Both QBs were solid, without being spectacular, against the Giants last time out, with Trubisky completing more passes for more yards but one fewer touchdown than White’s two.
Given the closeness of this fight for the second-string jersey, it makes sense to maximize their playing time while protecting their star QB. Aside from the quarterbacks, we don’t really know how McDermott will approach his other starters, which adds an air of mystery.
That isn’t the case for the Bears, with Ben Johnson confirming that “everyone’s going to play” on Wednesday. We didn’t see Williams at all in the tie with the Dolphins last Sunday, nor did we see the majority of the starters on offense and defense –something that should change on Sunday, even if it’s only for a series.
It’s been a tough week for Williams, with some reporters questioning him after a lackluster practice with the Bills. This game gives last year’s first overall pick a chance to find some form, as well as get into a pre-game routine at Soldier Field, something that Johnson has spoken about the importance of.
Behind Williams, the Bears will give Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum reps, with both men more than capable backups at this level. Bagent had a mixed performance against the Dolphins with a touchdown and an interception, while Keenum looked smooth, throwing for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
With the Bears looking to play more of their starters, it gives them the advantage here, something only further improved by having Keenum as the next man in at quarterback. He’s an efficient game manager and should be able to put the Bears in a position to cover here.
My Pick: Bears -2.5 (-115)
Spread
Take the Bears to cover the spread.
Moneyline
I have no play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I have no play on the total.
