The Chicago Bears and Houston Texans will both have their hands full making headway in their respective divisions this season. Chicago is a team that hasn't changed as much, but with Jay Cutler at quarterback, the Bears have a decent chance in the NFC North, especially with Teddy Bridgewater out for the Minnesota Vikings. Houston is once again starting a new quarterback, though they have committed big money to this one.
Bears vs. Texans 2016 picks and predictions: Experts all-in on Houston
No one thinks the Bears stand a chance when they play the Texans in their regular season opener on Sunday.
Brock Osweiler will make his regular season debut under center for the Texans. Last season, he played average football in a few games with the Denver Broncos in relief of Peyton Manning. But when he hit the open market, the Texans were eager to give him a massive contract, far more than the Broncos were willing to offer him. Rather than sign Osweiler for a ton of money, the Broncos instead decided they would be better off with Trevor Siemian.
The Texans will be hoping they made the right move, though the Bears are as good an opponent as any to face in his first regular season game. The Bears aren't particularly healthy at the moment, especially in the secondary. Tracy Porter, Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan -- the team's top three cornerbacks -- are dealing with injuries, and even if they manage to play on Sunday they might not be 100 percent.
DeAndre Hopkins is one of the league's top receivers, and he'll be one to watch on Sunday. If Osweiler can get him the football, then the Texans will be in good shape. At the running back position, the Texans parted ways with Arian Foster, but now have the steady Lamar Miller.
As far as experts are concerned, the eight-man panel at CBS Sports unanimously thinks the Texans will win. Of the nine analysts who have picked so far at ESPN, all of them are going with the Texans as well.
And here at SB Nation, it’s the same story:
| Game | RVB | Stephen White | Thomas George | Jeanna Thomas | Adam Stites | Tyler Tynes | Louis Bien | Joel Thorman | Fooch | OddsShark computer |
| CHI vs HOU | HOU | HOU | HOU | HOU | HOU | HOU | HOU | HOU | HOU | HOU |
There are few believers in Jay Cutler and the Bears’ offense at this stage. The Texans prevailed in the expert picks, and if you want to see them try to prevail on Sunday, the game is set for 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
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