After Back-to-Back Wins, Bears’ 2020 Super Bowl Odds Rebound to +1400

• Chicago’s Super Bowl odds were as long as +2833 after Week 1 loss
• Team has since registered back-to-back road wins
• Super Bowl odds now stand at +1400 after Monday night’s 31-15 win over the Redskins

After a dispiriting season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers, it was tough to get a read on the reigning NFC North champions. But after back-to-back wins over the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins, is it time to look at the Chicago Bears as Super Bowl contenders? Their Super Bowl odds had stretched to +2833 after their Week 1 loss, bounced between 20-1 and 25-1 the past two weeks, and now after a win on MNF have shortened to 14-1.

Super Bowl Odds

*Odds taken on 09/24/19.

The Bears’ two victories have come against a pair of struggling 0-3 teams. In terms of offensive scoring, the Broncos and Redskins rank 19th and 30th overall in the NFL at 21.0 and 15.3 points-per-game respectively. And the Redskins’ defense is the NFL’s joint second-worst in PPG, at 31.3, while Denver ranks 16th, at 22.3.

Defense Finds Its Groove

There may be a new defensive coordinator in Chicago this season, but the arrival of Chuck Pagano seems to have done little to slow the steamroller that is the Bears defense.

The 2018 edition of Chicago’s D finished with a league-high 36 turnovers for a +12 turnover differential. After registering just one through the first two weeks, the 2019 vintage broke out in a big way against the Redskins.

The Bears defense was DOMINANT on MNF! 😱
🐻3 Forced Fumbles
🐻1 Pick-Six, 3 INTs Total
🐻4 Sacks#Bears100 | @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/7XnQHIbaJm

— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2019

The five total turnovers were Chicago’s most in a game since 2013, and the defensive effort was led by All-Pro Khalil Mack, who had two sacks and two forced fumbles on the night.

While the 0-3 Redskins and their 22nd-ranked offense might not be the best barometer for the Bears’ D, the boost of confidence that Monday’s showing will provide can’t hurt going forward.

Trubisky Bounces Back

After throwing for zero touchdowns, 348 yards and one interception over the first two weeks of the season, if the Bears were going to go anywhere this season, they needed their quarterback to take charge of the Bears offense.

Mitch Trubisky certainly did that in Monday night’s 31-15 win in Washington. It might not be enough to silence the legion of doubters that has so far surrounded the third-year pro – who was drafted ahead of both Patrick Mahomes and DeShaun Watson – but it was a start.

Mitch Trubisky’s @NextGenStats passing chart. A lot more green dots than Weeks 1-2 pic.twitter.com/zbTX6yGXCN

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) September 24, 2019

Trubisky found a special connection with wide receiver Taylor Gabriel on Monday, who became the first Bear to score three touchdowns in a single quarter since Gale Sayers in 1965. Unfortunately for Gabriel and Trubisky, their burgeoning relationship was put on ice in the third quarter when Gabriel let with a concussion.

Chicago’s offensive line also started to give Trubisky time to read the field, and the young quarterback was able to make the most of it.

Mitchell Trubisky was considerably more effective as a passer on longer developing plays tonight against the Redskins.

When time to throw was 2.50+ seconds, Trubisky completed 85.7% of his attempts (First 2 Games: 40.5%).#CHIvsWAS | #Bears100 pic.twitter.com/yZZ66k8Gu6

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 24, 2019

However, doubts will remain over Chicago’s quarterback until he can start to put up the kind of numbers that he did on Monday on a consistent basis. That will underpin any Super Bowl hopes, and it will be interesting to see how Trubisky fares against better defenses.

"If the Bears have adequate, average, 14th best in the league quarterback play, the can win the Super Bowl. That defense is monstrous, the concern is do the Bears have the 24th quarterback in football or worse in Mitch Trubisky." — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/oYFvZC6w1I

— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) September 24, 2019

Banged-Up Bears

One of Monday’s few negatives was injuries, with a knee injury to Pro Bowl defensive end Akiem Hicks to go along with Gabriel’s concussion. With Bilal Nichols already out, it remains to be seen how the Bears can contain the NFL’s leading rusher, Dalvin Cook, in Week 4.

The Bears offer some value at +1400, particularly if the defense can maintain its dominance and Trubisky can have more performances like he did Monday night.