Oakland Raiders vs. Chicago Bears 2019: Prediction, Betting Odds For NFL Week 5 London Game

Plenty of stories were written about the expected regression of the Chicago Bears' defense for the 2019 NFL season. If you still believe the unit is going to take a step back, you’re going to be waiting for quite a while

Through four games, Chicago looks just like it did a year ago when it ranked first in the NFC in both points and yards allowed. The Bears are back atop the conference, surrendering just 6.8 points per game. Chicago is in the top-five in the NFL in both opponents’ yards per game and yards per play.

Enter the Oakland Raiders, who are coming off one of the most surprising wins this season. Oakland upset the Indianapolis Colts 31-24 in Week 4, improving their record to 2-2.

Can the Raiders beat a second straight winning team away from home? Oakland and Chicago will face off Sunday in London, where the Bears are 4.5-point favorites, according to the latest betting line at OddsShark.

The Raiders have picked up both their wins with strong offensive performances. Derek Carr was nearly perfect in Week 1, completing 22 of 26 passes in a 24-16 win over the Denver Broncos. The quarterback posted a 105.4 passer rating in Indianapolis. Oakland’s rushing attack generated 188 yards on 5.9 yards per attempt.

You can be sure the Raiders won’t come close to duplicating those numbers in Week 5.

No team has scored more than 15 points against Chicago this season. After dominating the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 in Week 4, the Bears have held nine straight opponents to 17 points or fewer. That stretch includes two games against Aaron Rodgers and a matchup with the Los Angeles Rams’ high-powered offense.

Oakland’s Week 3 visit to Minnesota marks the only time in which they’ve faced a defense that ranks better than 20th in opponents’ yards per play. The Raiders were blown out 34-14. Carr led the Raiders on a meaningless touchdown drive in garbage time to improve what had been poor numbers.

Chicago won’t light up the scoreboard, either. The Bears have only scored more than 16 points once this season. Chase Daniel will start at quarterback in place on the injured Mitchell Trubisky.

Sunday’s total is 40.5.

Daniel doesn’t have the same upside as Trubisky, but Chicago’s offense might be better off in his hands when the Bears simply need to take care of the ball in order to win. The backup was efficient with 195 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in the Bears’ most recent victory. He completed nearly 70 percent of his passes in two starts last season.

The Bears have played one game against a team that ranks in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed. Chicago beat the Washington Redskins 31-15 in that contest.

Only 10 teams have surrendered more yards than the Raiders. The Bears will generate enough scoring, whether it’s from their offense or defense, to win the game by a touchdown.

Prediction: Chicago over Oakland, 17-10