Final score prediction for Bears vs. Saints Week 9 game

Even at 2-6, it doesn’t feel like the Chicago Bears’ 2023 season is over. Maybe that’s wishful thinking. Perhaps it’s just naive fandom. But if the Bears pull off an upset victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 9, there’s a chance they can sneak back into some relevance in the second half of the season.

The Saints will be a tough out on Sunday, however. Their 4-4 record isn’t a fair reflection of how solid they are.

New Orleans features one of the most underrated defenses in the NFL. Check out where they rank in every significant defensive category:

Points allowed: 9th
Passing yards allowed: 7th
Passing yards allowed per attempt: 4th
Rushing yards allowed: 15th
Rushing TDs per game: 5th
Yards per offensive play allowed: 6th

Essentially, the Saints are a top-10 defense. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears offense ranks 26th in passing yards per game, 20th in yards per offensive play, and 28th in sacks allowed per game.

For the Bears to keep the game close, they must lean heavily on their running game. D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson will lead the way in what’s been the sixth-most effective rushing attack in the league this season. Chicago ranks No. 6 in rushing yards per game (132.8), even with Justin Fields missing the last two-plus games with injury.

Newly minted defensive end Montez Sweat will provide some extra juice on defense, and they’ll need it as they try to contain Saints running back Alvin Kamara. A skilled three-down defender, Sweat should pay immediate dividends even if his reps are capped in his debut game.

At this point in the season, the Chicago Bears need to prove they can win a game like this before picking them to win a game like this. So, I have to be reasonable, right?

NFL experts agree with that sentiment, 96% of experts picked the Saints to win, according to NFL Pick Watch.

Tyson Bagent will make his third and possibly final start of the season. I won’t say for sure that it’s his last start, however. If the Bears win and move to 2-1 with him in the starting lineup, there’s a chance Fields’ thumb injury “needs another week” before he’s ready (wink wink).

I don’t see that happening, though. The Chicago Bears will play a tough game but fall short in the end.

FINAL SCORE: Bears 17 Saints 24