Here is my preview and best bet for the 2022 NFL Week 1 game between the 49ers and Bears.
- NFL Week 1 Odds, Picks & Predictions: Bills vs. Rams
- Kickoff: Sunday, Sep. 11, 2022, 1 pm ET
- Location: Soldier Field
- TV: FOX
49ers at Bears: Consensus Lines
- Spread: 49ers -7
- Over/Under: 41.5
- Moneyline: 49ers -315, Bears +240
49ers at Bears: Betting Percentages
- Spread: Bears – 24% bets, 68% money
- Over/Under: Over – 45% bets, 49% money
- Moneyline: Bears – 39% bets, 53% money
49ers at Bears: Key Injuries
San Francisco 49ers Injuries
- C Daniel Brunskill (hamstring) – week to week
- CB Jason Verrett (knee, PUP)
- S Jimmie Ward (hamstring, IR)
Chicago Bears Injuries
- C Lucas Patrick (hand) – out indefinitely
- RG Dakota Dozier (knee, IR)
- WR N’Keal Harry (ankle, IR)
- WR Byron Pringle (quad) – questionable
- CB Tavon Young (leg, IR)
Injury Analysis
Over the past three years, Brunskill has made starts at literally every spot on the offensive line. After starting 20 games at right guard last year, he’s expected to shift to the pivot in place of retired C Alex Mack. If he misses Week 1, that would mean that the 49ers would have three new starters on the interior of their offensive line — minus Brunksill, Mack and LG Laken Tomlinson (free agency), as well as competent backup G/T Tom Compton (free agency) — and that could be detrimental to new starting QB Trey Lance.
It’s also notable that the 49ers will be without two starters in their secondary (Verrett and Ward), which leaves them incredibly thin, given the offseason departures of starters CB Josh Norman, CB K’Waun Williams and S Jaquiski Tartt, as well as depth S Tavon Wilson.
As for the Bears, they will be without one projected starter on the offensive line (Dozier), and they could be without another one (Patrick), which feels like a big problem, as the team lost starters LT Jason Peters, RT Germain Ifedi and RG James Daniels this offseason. They will also be without Young at slot corner and maybe Pringle as the No. 2 wide receiver.
49ers at Bears: Situational Spots
San Francisco 49ers Situation