Chicago Bears vs Washington Redskins Point Spread Picks

Washington heads out on the road after a tough loss at home Monday Night to Carolina in a must-win game for their playoff hopes. This is a quick turnaround, playing on Saturday after the Monday night contest. It was a tough loss as the Washington's flaws were exposed on defense, #29 in the NFL in yards allowed, #26 against the pass, and #24 in points surrendered. They are a .500 team on the road, but are a road favorite here, and have lost three of the last four games overall. The Redskins have allowed 24, 31, 31, 22, and 26 points the last five contests. Chicago plays its best football at home with all three of its wins this season at Soldier Field, all as a dog. The Bears have improved this season despite few wins, #15 on offense in yards, #14 in passing, while the defense is ninth in yards allowed and sixth against the pass. They got WR Alshon Jeffrey back the last game after a four-game suspension. The Bears have not quit, covering five straight games, including giving the Packers a game last week, a 30-27 home loss. This is their third home game in the last four contests, and the dog has covered six of the last seven meetings. Play the Bears.

The Washington Redskins missed a golden opportunity to take the undisputed top rung in the soft NFC East on Monday Night at home vs. Dallas. What they succeeded in doing was to allow Dallas at 4-8 to get back in the race, while all the other teams are 5-7 and fighting at the top. Washington has not won on the road since October 12th of last season. The fact is they are a three-point win at Dallas in their last 19 road games from being 0-19 SU on the road. The Bears are 5-7, and have certainly been a better team than what they looked like at the beginning of the season. The Bears are getting healthier at WR, and QB Jay Cutler has settled into a pretty good year. Cutler has reduced his INTs from 18 last season, to just seven this year. This game isn't so much about Chicago as it is about Washington, as the Skins have been so inept on the road that it has to be in their heads now. Kirk Cousins, included, who owns a 1-10 SU record as a starter on the road for his career. Play Chicago to win this one straight-up. Also take the OVER. The Skins have allowed 32.4 points per game this season ont he road while Chicago has given up an average of 27.5 at home. With a total set this low, it doesn't take much offense to get there. Back the Bears and the OVER.

Sometimes what a team did a year ago at this stage of the season is hard to forget. The Bears were not a good team at this point last season, and that memory still lingers. They started 3-0 but have lost two of their last three, solidifying for many the belief that they just are not very good. While we faded Chicago last week, this is a good spot for them. The Redskins won four games a year ago. That mark was supposed to change considerably with Donovan McNabb in the fold. The problem is that whatever they gained on offense they seemed to have lost on defense. Washington currently ranks dead last in yards allowed per game at a staggering 420 yards a game. The Bears on the other hand, with Brian Urlacher once again inspiring and leading the defense, is ranked No. 8. McNabb has added all of 24 yards per game to the Skins offense over a year ago, and just 2 ppg. So with the defense lagging behind, this team has actually gotten worse. Washington, in expected close games (dog of 3 or less) has only covered one of their last 13. Washington was supposed to be sitting where the Bears are, but they are not, so we have the under-the-radar team at home in what amounts to a pick 'em game, extracting the 3 for home field advantage. The Bears can move the ball and should have no trouble vs. the worst defense in the NFL. I like Chicago to win and cover. I also like this game to go OVER the total. At home as chalk, the Bears are 20-8 to the OVER in their last 28, including a perfect 8-0 as a favorite of 3 or less. The Skins are doing a lot of the same as they are 5-1 to the OVER on the road as a dog of 3 or less. Mike Shanahan coached teams are 34-19 OVER in non-conference games. I like the Bears and the OVER.