Introduction to the Game
The last time the Bears won four games in a row, they won the NFC North title. There’s still a long way to go this season before division title talk can enter the picture, but the Bears on Sunday will have a chance to do something last accomplished by those 2018 NFC North champions: win four straight. After winning back-to-back road games by identical 25-24 scores, the Bears are back at Soldier Field on Sunday to host the New Orleans Saints for a noon kickoff. New Orleans is an NFC-worst 1-5, while Chicago is looking to make it four straight wins overall and an 0-2 start to the season. The last time the Bears won four straight was in 2018, when they ended the regular season with four consecutive victories.
Game Details
New Orleans (1-5) at Chicago (3-2)
Sunday, Noon, FOX.
BetMGM NFL Odds: Bears by 5 (subject to change).
Against the spread: Saints 2-4, Bears 3-2.
Series record: Saints lead 19-15.
Last week: Saints lost to Patriots 25-19; Bears beat Commanders 25-24.
Last meeting: Saints beat Bears 24-17 at New Orleans on Nov. 5, 2023.
Saints offense: overall (24), rush (19), pass (22), scoring (28).
Saints defense: overall (18), rush (17t), pass (16), scoring (25).
Bears offense: overall (14), rush (18), pass (11), scoring (10).
Bears defense: overall (27), rush (31), pass (15), scoring (27).
Turnover differential: Saints plus-4; Bears plus-8.
Injuries and Inactives
Bears
The Bears just released their list of inactives for Sunday’s game, and two key offensive weapons are good to go. After spending a night in a Washington-area hospital after last week’s game, Bears WR DJ Moore was listed as a full participant on the team’s Friday injury report. He didn’t have an injury designation for Sunday’s game and is active. RB D’Andre Swift, meanwhile, was limited in practice with a groin injury this week and listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. But he’s also active. That’s not the case for K Cairo Santos, who had already been ruled out Sunday for the second straight game with a thigh injury. So Jake Moody, who kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired against the Commanders, will kick again for the Bears. LB Noah Sewell (concussion) was already ruled out Sunday. Also inactive Sunday are DL Grady Jarrett, who had been questionable with a knee injury, as well as WR Jahdae Walker, LB Ruben Hyppolite II, OL Luke Newman and third QB Case Keenum.
Saints
The Saints also just announced their inactives for Sunday’s game: DB Ugo Amadi, CB Rezjohn Wright, CB Isaac Yiadom, DE Jonah Williams, OL Torricelli Simpkins III and OL Xavier Truss. RB Alvin Kamara, meanwhile, is active. He got some rest in practice last week due to ankle soreness but did not have an injury designation on the team’s Friday injury report.
Key Players to Watch
Saints Player to Watch
Saints dynamic, change-of-pace QB Taysom Hill scored his first touchdown of the season on a short run last weekend and is bound to become increasingly involved in New Orleans’ offense after missing the season’s first four games while completing his rehabilitation from a major knee injury last season. In two games, Hill has completed the only pass he’s thrown, for 19 yards, and has run the ball several times in short-yardage situations. He also has lined up as a receiver, so it might not be long before he makes a catch. And he’s playing on special teams, too.
Bears Player to Watch
RB D’Andre Swift. Largely a nonfactor in the first four games, Swift delivered what might be his best performance in two seasons with the Bears on Monday night. He ran for by far a season-high 108 yards on 14 attempts behind a revised offensive line. He also turned a short pass into a 55-yard touchdown.
Key Matchups
Bears LT Theo Benedet vs. Saints DEs Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan
Benedet made his first career start in a Week 4 win at Las Vegas as the right tackle, then got moved to the left side when Braxton Jones was lifted from that game. After struggling against Maxx Crosby, Benedet fared better against Washington in his first start at left tackle, though the Commanders’ Dorance Armstrong hurt his hamstring. Granderson has 4 1/2 sacks, and Jordan is an eight-time Pro Bowler.
Series Notes
New Orleans forced five turnovers and had three interceptions against backup QB Tyson Bagent two years ago in beating Chicago for the eighth straight time, counting the playoffs. The Bears haven’t beaten the Saints since late in the 2008 season.
Stats and Stuff
New Orleans’ 1-5 start is its worst since opening 1-7 in 1999 under then-coach Mike Ditka, a Super Bowl-winning coach with the Bears. … Saints QB Spencer Rattler passed for 227 yards without a turnover last week. He is one of three QBs (Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield) with 150 or more passing attempts and only 1 or fewer interceptions this season. … Kamara had five catches and 76 scrimmage yards in Week 6. Has 595 catches and can become fifth RB with 600. … WR Chris Olave had six catches for 98 yards last week. He is one of three WRs, along with Puka Nacua and Amon-Ra St. Brown, to have five games with at least six catches in 2025. … The Bears have won three straight since opening with losses to Minnesota and at Detroit, beating Dallas by 17 and both Las Vegas and Washington by 25-24. Jake Moody — filling in for Santos — kicked a 38-yard field goal as time expired last week after having a 48-yarder blocked earlier in the game. … Chicago looks to make it four in a row for the first time since the 2018 NFC North championship team closed the regular season with four straight wins. Chicago also had a five-game run that season. … Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen led New Orleans to an 18-25 record without a playoff appearance over 2 1/2 seasons after taking over for Sean Payton in 2022. He was fired after Week 9 last season, with the Saints 2-7 after losing seven in a row. He spent six seasons as their defensive coordinator before getting promoted when Payton left in what turned out to be a one-year retirement from coaching. … Chicago is tied with Jacksonville for the NFL lead with a plus-8 turnover differential and ranks second with 12 takeaways, including 11 in the past three games. The Jaguars have forced a league-leading 14 turnovers. … QB Caleb Williams had his fourth career fourth-quarter comeback last week. The No. 1 pick in last year’s draft has also cut back on the sacks so far, with 10 this season after leading the league with a franchise-record 68 as a rookie.
Fantasy Tip
Rome Odunze has emerged as the Bears’ No. 1 receiver in his second season, and with DJ Moore hurt, he could have a few more passes thrown his way. Odunze leads the team in receptions (22) and yards (328), and his five touchdown catches are one shy of the league lead.
Conclusion
The Bears are looking to extend their winning streak to four games as they host the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field. With key players like DJ Moore and D’Andre Swift active, Chicago is poised to make a strong showing. However, the Saints, despite their 1-5 record, have dynamic players like Taysom Hill who can change the course of the game. The matchup between Bears LT Theo Benedet and Saints DEs Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan will be crucial, as will the performance of RB D’Andre Swift. The Bears’ ability to maintain their turnover differential and capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes will also be key to their success.
FAQs
- Q: What is the current record of the Bears and the Saints?
- A: The Bears are 3-2, and the Saints are 1-5.
- Q: Who are the key players to watch in this game?
- A: For the Saints, QB Taysom Hill, and for the Bears, RB D’Andre Swift.
- Q: What is the significance of the Bears winning four straight games?
- A: The last time the Bears won four straight games was in 2018 when they won the NFC North title.
- Q: What are the injuries and inactives for the Bears and the Saints?
- A: For the Bears, K Cairo Santos and LB Noah Sewell are out, but WR DJ Moore and RB D’Andre Swift are active. For the Saints, RB Alvin Kamara is active, but several players including DB Ugo Amadi and DE Jonah Williams are inactive.
- Q: What is the forecast for the game?
- A: Weather could be a big factor in Sunday’s game, with wind and rain in the forecast for at least the first part of the game.
