Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, right, and wide receiver Brandon Marshall Reuters

Through eight weeks, the Chicago Bears have one of the best teams in the NFL. At 6-1, they’re alone in first place in the NFC North.

Even though the Bears will hit the road, they might have one of their easiest tests of the season on Sunday afternoon. Chicago is set to visit the Tennessee Titans in Week 9. The game will air on FOX at 1 p.m. ET. You can watch a live stream online by purchasing NFL Sunday Ticket Max.

It will be a matchup of one of the best defenses in the league against one of the worst. The Bears are second in the NFL, allowing 14.3 points per game. The Titans have gotten off to a historically bad start, giving up 32.1 points per game, good for second-to-last in football.

The Titans are the most likely candidates to have success against a tough Bears defense. Matt Hasselbeck will get the start at quarterback, once again, over an injured Jake Locker. Hasselbeck is 2-2 at the helm in 2012.

Tennessee’s defense is a welcomed sight for Chicago’s offense. The Bears have struggled to move the ball, with just 319.6 total yards per game. Despite the addition of wide receiver Brandon Marshall, the Bears are 30th in passing yards.

Jay Cutler has had a bumpy road, en route to leading his team to first place. His 78.9 quarterback rating is the second-worst of his career, and television cameras have caught him having arguments with teammates.

Betting Line: Chicago-5

Prediction: Chicago barely escaped its last two games, winning by a total of seven points against two losing teams. Hasselbeck has played surprisingly well in four starts. Chicago’s good fortune may finally run out on the road.

Predicted Score: Tennessee 20, Chicago 16