Chiefs vs. Bears predictions: Writers pick K.C. to overwhelm Chicago

After beating the Denver Broncos in the snow, the Kansas City Chiefs are traveling to Chicago to take on the Bears on Sunday Night Football.

After winning big against the Denver Broncos on a snowy day at Arrowhead Stadium last week, the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to extend their winning streak as they travel to Chicago to take on the Bears. Coming into the season, the matchup was highly anticipated, but now with the Bears struggling and eliminated from playoff contention, the matchup has lost much of its appeal.

Despite their struggles, the Bears still boast a top 10 defense. However, the Bears’ defense will still have trouble keeping the Chiefs’ 5th ranked offense in check. The Bears are coming off a loss to the Packers, while the Chiefs have won four consecutive games.

The matchup will feature Chiefs head coach Andy Reid taking on former offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, head coach of the Bears. It will also feature quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Mitchell Trubisky, both of whom were selections in the 2017 NFL draft. The Bears drafted Trubisky at 2nd overall while the Chiefs drafted Mahomes at 10th overall. This will be the first time the two teams have faced off in the regular season since that franchise-defining draft.

The Chiefs recently lost defensive end Alex Okafor for the season with a torn pectoral, but were able to claim veteran pass rusher Terrell Suggs on waivers. Suggs is a huge addition to a much improved Chiefs’ defense, but Okafor’s loss isn’t the only injury the Chiefs are struggling with.

K.C. will also be playing without offensive guard Andrew Wylie, who is out after not practicing at all this week, and cornerback Morris Claiborne, who is out with a  shoulder injury. On the positive side, the Chiefs could be getting running back Damien Williams back in action after he has missed the last few games with a hamstring injury.

Regardless of injuries, our writers think the Chiefs will take care of business and beat the Bears. Here are our full writer predictions:

Drew Brooks: Chiefs 35, Bears 13

The Chiefs have won their last four games and look like a team that won’t lose again this season. That being said, this game is a trap game. It’s a matchup that looks like an easy Chiefs win, but it also looks like one of those games that the Chiefs seem to always lose. But I think the Chiefs will show us they’re legit and win soundly.

Matt Conner: Chiefs 30, Bears 10

At this point, the Chiefs season has finally come together. The offense is a re-awakening beast. The defense is proving doubters wrong with every passing week. Special teams is healing from a few careless displays. The Bears’ ability to play up to the level of the Chiefs on any level just isn’t there. Sorry.

Jalon Dodson: Chiefs 27, Bears 17

The Chiefs have been on a roll. The Bears not so much. An effective and elaborate system has started to take center stage with the Chiefs, and they might very well win out for the rest of the season. The Chiefs are one of the most complete teams, and the Bears would have to get tremendously lucky to even scratch the surface of beating them.

Jacob Harris: Chiefs 37, Bears 17

The Chiefs are too good on both sides right now and the Bears’ offense is awful. Easy win.

Jake Kokoris: Chiefs 23 Bears 13

The only advantage the Bears have this week is the home-field kind. Given the Chiefs’ road record (6-1), even that might not even be an advantage. Expect another big outing from the Chiefs’ pass defense. This game does present some trap-game potential, so as long as Mahomes and co. come in focused, expect the win streak to continue.

Scott Loring: Chiefs 28, Bears 14

Lots of narratives here. Reid vs. Nagy. Mahomes vs. Trubisky. The big bummer here is that one team is eliminated from playoff contention, and one is not. The Chiefs have captured the AFC West, but they have to win in Chicago in order to remain in the discussion for a bye in the playoffs. Kansas City has played extremely well on the road in 2019 (6-1) and I expect that to continue at Soldier Field, where it will be a clear night in the upper 30s. The biggest thing holding back the Chiefs in these scenarios is that the Chiefs have not performed well in night games in the Patrick Mahomes era. Including the playoffs, Mahomes is just 3-6 in night games he has started and finished in his career.

Jordan Mannix: Chiefs 31, Bears 16

I’d expect that Sunday the Bears will hang with the Chiefs for a quarter or two, but the Chiefs will win the game running away. While the Bears defense is good, they’ll be unable to contend with the overall talent in the Chiefs skill positions. While the Bears offense has been better, the Chiefs defense is thriving and just added a nasty pass rusher in Terrell Suggs. At the end of the day, the Chiefs are the better team and will make that obvious on Sunday.

Ellen Mathis: Chiefs 27, Bears 17

I have been looking forward to this game all year because I’m going! Obviously the Chiefs have to win. I was much more concerned about the outcome earlier in the year because we thought the Bears were going to be better. They have struggled with Mitch Trubisky but their defense is still great. Despite great defense, this game will go to the Chiefs who are certainly hitting their stride at the right time.

Kelly Thompson: Chiefs 31, Bears 13

The Chiefs will know more than 24 hours in advance that they are playing for a first round bye (after the Bills defeat the Patriots on Saturday). We’ll see a highly motivated and engaged team doing exactly what they did last week: defeating an inferior team. The offense is averaging 28 points per game despite playing seven top 10 defenses already this year. There is no reason to believe the defense can stop Mahomes—or that Mitch Trubisky can move the ball against the Chiefs defense. Get ready for another game of wondering why Mahomes is still playing deep in to the 4th quarter.

Grant Tuttle: Chiefs 31, Bears 10

The Bears come into a game in which they have nothing to gain. The Chiefs enter the game with plenty to play for—if they have a few things go their way. Trubisky has been bad, the Chiefs defense has been good. This game seems pretty straightforward and that would normally make me nervous. Not this time. Mahomes and the offense show more progress and the Chiefs win with ease.

Farzin Vousoughian: Chiefs 24, Bears 17

I think the Chiefs will have another good defensive performance while being tested against another good defense. Expect second half adjustments to be made after a slow start.