[1:00 PM] Bears @ Giants

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago Bears (2-7)

@ New York Giants (6-3)

 

• The line for this game is Giants by 7.

• Eli Manning may know a thing or two about the arduous path to a Super Bowl, but flamboyant wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. already has the New York Giants competing in the NFL’s showcase game this season. While sharing starkly different philosophies off the field, the pair has been making magic on it of late as the Giants vie for their fifth straight victory on Sunday when they host the downtrodden Chicago Bears.

• Chicago’s difficult season got even worse this week after wideout Alshon Jeffery was suspended four games for performance-enhancing drugs, with Cutler likely turning to tight end Zach Miller (team-leading 44 receptions) as the focus of the passing game. Jordan Howard recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing performance on Sunday, one shy of the franchise record for a rookie (Beattie Feathers in 1934, Rashaan Salaam in 1995). Linebacker Pernell McPhee promised to get Manning dirty as the Bears are eighth in the league with sacks (24) while the Giants’ quarterback has only been dropped 12 times in 350 passing attempts.

• The dust barely settled after New York eked out a 21-20 victory over Cincinnati on Monday when Beckham boasted greater heights for his ascending team. Veteran Rashad Jennings ran for 87 of his team’s 122 yards to help New York’s 31st-ranked rushing attack get untracked on Monday, but Chicago’s defense (11th-ranked) should provide a tougher test.

• New York’s Robbie Gould, who signed a one-year deal as a replacement for fellow K Josh Brown, will compete against the team with which he spent the previous 11 years of his career.

• Chicago LB Jerrell Freeman leads the team with 81 tackles and is averaging 11 per game in the last nine on the road.

• Giants S Landon Collins has four interceptions in his last three games and is the only NFL player with four-plus picks and three-plus sacks.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: New York Giants

Confidence: 7/10

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