Texans vs Bears Picks and Prediction – 8/2/2024

The 2024 NFL preseason kicks off on Thursday, August 1 when the Houston Texans take on the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The game will be carried live nationwide on ABC and ESPN. Be ready for all the NFL action this season with our free NFL Picks.

Last season Houston went from being one of the worst teams in the NFL during 2022 to to division champions in the AFC South behind the play of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Houston will likely have Davis Mills and Case Keenum alternating under center as Stroud is not likely to play at quarterback in this game. Both QBs have taken plenty of snaps in meaningful games in the NFL. 

Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce will lead Houston's running game, while Cam Akers will also see action. Stefon Diggs and Robert Woods will lead the wide receivers will be led by. Of course, the first-teamers will see limited action in this matchup. Will Anderson Jr and Danielle Hunter, the starting defensive ends, will lead Houston's 4-3 defense, while Denico Autry returns as one of the interior linemen. Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oto’o lead the linebackers with Jeff Okudah and Derek Stingley Jr at the corners and Jimmie Ward and Jalen Pitre at safety. 

Chicago is a big unknown heading into this season with rookie Caleb Williams set to be the starting regular season quarterback, under the tutelage of head coach Matt Eberflus. Chicago is very deep at running back with D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert, while at wide receiver the Bears will be led by DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. Expect to see Tyson Bagent and Brett Rypien take more snaps at quarterback than Williams as the Bears coaching staff will not want to risk injury to their new star QB. 

The Chicago defense will play a 4-3 and be led by Montez Sweat and DeMarcus Walker at the defensive end spots, while the linebackers will be led by Tremaine Edmunds, Jack Sanborn, and TJ Edwards. The defensive backfield is strong at cornerback with Tyrique Stevenson and Jaylon Johnson, while the two starting safeties will be Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III. Do not expect the starters to play more than a few series and likely less for many of them.