On Saturday, the Buffalo Bills will kick off their three-game preseason slate on the road against the Chicago Bears, who are coming off of a 21-17 win over the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame Game. All eyes will be on No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams as he makes his NFL debut, and Buffalo is playing some of their starters as well (including Josh Allen).
Here’s everything you need to know about this Week 1 preseason matchup between the Bears and Bills, including how to watch, how to listen, the start time, and more.
Chicago Bears at Buffalo Bills
- Start time: Saturday, August 10, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
- Channel: NFL Network
- Live stream options: NFL App, NFL+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
- Radio stations:
- Starting QBs: Caleb Williams, Josh Allen
- Betting lines:
- Spread: CHI -1
- Total: 38
- Moneyline: CHI -130, BUF +110
The Bills enter the 2024 season hoping to stay atop the AFC East, with the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets vying for the top spot. According to head coach Sean McDermott, quarterback Josh Allen will play for about a quarter against the Bears.
He won’t be the only starter, and it will be interesting to see what the passing game looks like after WR Stefon Diggs was traded and Gabe Davis signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. Third-year WR Khalil Shakir takes over as WR1, and while he had a vast improvement from his rookie to sophomore season, 39 rec for 611 yards and two TDs is just average.
Shakir, rookie Keon Coleman, and Curtis Samuel have much to prove as the presumed top three targets for Allen. While Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox will add to the party, having established weapons outside will help stretch the defense and take some pressure off of Allen. Hopefully, Buffalo has done enough that he does not have to be the savior once again this season.
While the passing game is a bit uncertain, Buffalo hopes to see another promising season from RB James Cook. The Bills had not had a 1,000-yard rusher in Allen’s six-year career, but Cook surpassed that in his first season as the premier back and was a big part of Buffalo’s late-season surge.
While the Bills’ front seven looks strong, the secondary, which lost a lot of talent in the offseason, could be of some concern. CB Tre White signed with the Los Angeles Rams, Jordan Poyer went to the Miami Dolphins, and Dane Jackson joined the Carolina Panthers. Will they hold up against some explosive offenses in the AFC?
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