Everything You Need to Know About Chiefs vs. Bears Preseason Finale

The final week of the NFL preseason is one of the biggest teases in football. Fans are getting more excited as the regular season approaches, and last week gave us a huge taste of watching the starters play. But teams usually pull back in the finale. That doesn't mean this game isn't important, however.

The starters aren't typically playing all that hard in preseason action. They're shaking off rust and trying to stay healthy. For guys on the roster bubble, however, this is a playoff atmosphere. One or two plays could be the difference between making the team and ending up on the practice squad (or even trying to find a job elsewhere). That drama adds a lot to this matchup, and for the Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears, the drama is also distinctly different.

For the Chiefs, it's all about refining the roster. This is the most talented group in football, and there is less room for error in making the Chiefs' roster than you'll find anywhere else. Some very talented football players will be on the outside looking in.

For the Bears it's about finding their identity. They're in a unique position in having a first-overall rookie at quarterback while not being in an actual rebuild. They're expected to be in playoff contention immediately. But with a heavily re-tooled roster, there are still a lot of major question marks. They'll hope to answer at least a few of those questions on Thursday night.

Here's everything you need to know (plus some stuff you probably don't need to know) about tonight's game.

The Nuts and Bolts: Start Time, How to Watch, Etc.

• Home: Kansas City Chiefs (0-2 preseason)
• Away: Chicago Bears (3-0 preseason)
• Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, MO
• Date: August 22, 2024
• Time: 7:20 p.m. CT (8:20 p.m. Eastern, 5:20 p.m. Pacific)
• TV Coverage: NFL Network
• Radio Coverage: 38 the Spot (KCMI) in KC, ESPN 1000 in Chicago

Weather Report: No Excuses

The weather report is perfect for a game like this. Rain or heavy winds can make it harder to evaluate players, since adverse weather can heavily impact playcalling and the speed and tempo of a game. We have no such concerns here.

Accuweather is giving us a 0% chance of precipitation, with temperatures of 79 degrees at 7 p.m., 75 at 8 p.m. and 73 at 9 p.m.. Winds of 8 mph aren't going to shake things up either.

Bad weather can be a fun part of regular season football, but anyone fighting for a roster spot tonight will be feeling great about this forecast.

How to Watch?

The game will be broadcast nationally on NFL Network, though Kansas City residents are in a blackout zone. It will be on 38 The Spot, a channel available on analog cable. YouTube TV or Spectrum consumers will be forced to change to satelite or analog.

Don't fear if the game doesn't show up on your television application, simply change to standard cable and you'll find it on 38 The Spot.

Who's Playing: Will We See Caleb Williams or Patrick Mahomes?

Chiefs fans won't get their first chance for an up-close look at Caleb Williams on Thursday night. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus announced on Tuesday that the "majority" of Bears starters will not play in their preseason finale.

This makes extra sense for the Bears, who played in the Hall of Fame Game and therefore have already played an extra preseason game. This is also a somewhat short week after last playing on Saturday, August 17.

Andy Reid hasn't given us an exact answers, but starters are expected to sit for the Chiefs as well. Reid wants an "extended" look at the players on the roster bubble, and it was clear last week that Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs starters were already firing on all cylinders. There's no need to risk any injuries to a group that doesn't look like it needs any more warmup before the real game action begins.

Chiefs vs. Bears Odds: Yes, You Can Bet on Preseason Games

If you're interested in what the betting markets say about this game (or even in the fact that a preseason betting market exists at all), FanDuel Sportsbook has full odds for the game. Here's a rundown of the key numbers:

Spread: KC +1.5 (-110) | CHI -1.5 (-110)
Moneyline: KC (+105) | CHI (-125)
Total: 32.5 — Over (-105) | Under (-115)

So the Bears are very slight favorites to win this one, but the game is projected as a virtual coin flip. No surprise there, as who is really going to go out on a limb and pick a big favorite in a preseason game?

Obviously the odds in a regular season meeting between these two sides would look nothing like this. The Chiefs are, after all, tied with the best odds to win the Super Bowl (+600) this seaosn, while the Bears are tied for 15th at +3500.

The Chiefs' -480 odds to make the playoffs are best in the NFL, while the Bears are basically a coin flip at -104.

Storyline to Watch: Make-or-Break for Nikko Remigo

There are so many position battles going on in this one, but the one likely to capture Chiefs fans' attention the most is the one surrounding Nikko Remigo.

The 2023 undrafted free agent is looking to land a spot on the loaded wide receiver depth chart, with the potential to make a significant impact on special teams following the new NFL kickoff rule changes.

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub wants Remigo to make the roster, and that means there's a good chance we'll get a long look at what the youngster can do tonight. That also means that guys like Justyn Ross and Louis Rees-Zammit have a lot on the line as well.

Chiefs vs. Bears Matchup History (Including Preseason)

Despite both franchises boasting a long, rich history, the Chiefs and Bears have only met 14 times in regular season play. The lifetime series is tied at 7-7, though the Chiefs have outscored the Bears 291 to 198, for an average margin of +6.6 points per game.

The most recent meeting was a 41-10 win for the Chiefs last September, and before that it was a 26-3 win for the Chiefs in December 2019. The Bears' last head-to-head win came in 2015, when they edged out an 18-17 win.

The Chiefs and Bears' last preseason matchup was in 2022 — a game the Bears won 19-14. The starters did get some run in that one (Mahomes was 6/7 for 60 yards and a TD), but ultimately Trevor Siemian (7/13, 89 yards, 2 TDs) outdueled Shane Buechele (12/19, 99 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT).

Considering the Chiefs went on to win the Super Bowl and Mahomes won MVP while the Bears went 3-14, perhaps we shouldn't care too much who wins this game.

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