There’s a lot of NFL action on Christmas Eve. Our Washington Redskins play Chicago Bears free pick is a 1 p.m. ET contest. The game will be played in Chicago. The Redskins come to this game at minus three. Washington still have a shot at the postseason. For the Bears, it’s about being a spoiler.
The Washington Redskins (7-6-1) have a long shot at a NFC wild card. They are 2-3 for their last five, and that’s simply not good enough. Last week, the Carolina Panthers beat them 26-15. In the last five games they also lost to Dallas 31-26 and Arizona 31-22. The team’s two wins were against the Packers 42-24 and Eagles 27-22.
The Chicago Bears (3-11) are last in the NFC North. They started the season with three straight losses and then one win and then three more losses. In their last five, they are 1-4, but in that same five-game stretch, Chicago is 5-0 against the spread. That’s where the challenge is in this game. In terms of losses, the Bears have go down to the usual suspects, including the Lions, Packers, Titans, and Giants. They were favored against and beat the 49ers 26-6.
Washington Offense vs. Bears Defense
The Redskins come to this game averaging 24.6 PPG. Of their 417.2 YPG of offense, 313.6 have been in the air. QN Kirk Cousins (67.5 COMP%, 23 TD, 10 INTs, 19 Sacks) will try to get his team back on track. His three top wideouts, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, and Jamison Crowder, look ready to play. They have 14 TD catches between them. RB Robert Kelley is averaging 4.3 YPA and had 595 yards on 137 attempts. He’s rushed for six TDs.
The Bears have one of the better pass defenses in the NFL. They are holding teams to just under 320 passing yards per game. Opponents are scoring on average 22.9 PPG against them. Chicago has 37 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, and 62 passes defended. They are have seven interceptions and 35 TFL. Three players have 7.0 to 7.5 sacks, but two of them are questionable.
Chicago Offense vs. Redskins Defense
It’s expected that fourth-year QB Matt Barkley (58.6 COMP%, 6 TDs, 7 INTs, 4 Sacks) will get the call again for this game. He’s been playing as well as and in some ways better than any other Chicago QB. The Bears are averaging just 17.7 PPG. However, in the last four, they are averaging 22.8 PPG. TE Zach Miller and WRs Alshon Jeffrey and Cameron Meredith are ready to play. Chicago has a decent rush attack that is anchored by RB Jordan Howard (211 ATT, 1,059 YDs, 5.0 AVG, 6 TDs).
The Redskins also bring a solid defense to this game. They’re giving up 24.5 PPG and come in with 36 sacks and 19 FF. In addition, they’ve got 49 TFL, 62 PD, and 8 INTs. This is a solid defense. Tops in sacks are LB Ryan Kerrigan with 11, DT Trent Murphy with eight, and DE Chris Baker with 4.5. Kerrigan and Baker are both questionable. They three also have 13 TFL. Murphy has also forced three fumbles. CB Josh Norman has defended 14 passes, intercepted one pass, and forced two fumbles.
Our Washington Redskins Play Chicago Bears Free Pick
So what’s it going to be? Will Chicago keep it’s streak alive ATS, or will Washington get back on track? The Bears are +3.0. In our Washington Redskins play Chicago Bears free pick, we are going with the Redskins at -3.0.
Our Washington Redskins Play Chicago Bears Free Pick: Washington Redskins at -3.0.
