Saints-Bears 2014: Monday Night Football Prediction, Point Spread, TV Channel

It’s impossible for the New Orleans Saints (5-8) to have a winning record this season, but the team has a chance to take sole possession of first place in the NFC South. A victory over the Chicago Bears (5-8) on “Monday Night Football” would make them the No.4 seed in the conference with just two games remaining on their schedule.

New Orleans has gotten help in Week 15 from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat the Atlanta Falcons (5-9). The Carolina Panthers (5-8-1) are currently tied with the Saints in first place, having beaten the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, winning their second game in a row.

Chicago shares the same record as New Orleans, but the contest holds little importance for the Bears. The NFC North is a two-team race between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, and Chicago is 4.5 games out of the wild-card race.

The Bears will try to right the ship, as they deal with issues involving their coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer admitted to the team on Friday that he criticized quarterback Jay Cutler to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. After missing last year’s playoffs and doing so again in 2014, Kromer and much of the coaching staff are not guaranteed to return next season.

The two teams met at Soldier Field last season. Alshon Jeffery led Chicago with 218 receiving yards, but it wasn't enough for the Bears, in a 26-18 loss. It was the only time New Orleans covered the spread in a regular-season road game in 2013.

Even though both teams have won just five games, New Orleans is favored by a field goal on the road. The Saints have lost four of their last five games, and the Bears are coming off consecutive losses.

TV Channel: ESPN

Online Stream: WatchESPN

Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Point Spread: Saints by 3 points

Over/Under: 54 points

Prediction: Chicago over New Orleans, 34-28