NFL Win Totals: Will the Bears Make a Big Leap in 2024?

The Chicago Bears are officially entering a new era as we head into the 2024 season.

In 2023, the Bears finished with a 7-10 record and were last in the NFC North. Chicago had the first pick, however, in the 2024 NFL Draft thanks to a trade with the Carolina Panthers in the 2023 NFL Draft. It's due to that move that the Bears are now entering a season with their highest expectations in quite some time.

The Justin Fields era came to an end in the offseason, as Chicago will put their trust into new franchise quarterback Caleb Williams moving forward -- which is a cause for excitement for this team. With a busy offseason led by general manager Ryan Poles, the potential for this team in 2024 is as high as anyone could have imagined at the end of last season.

Can the Bears surpass their win line of 8.5 that they have, via the NFL win totals at FanDuel Sportsbook, with their new quarterback and roster? Let's dive in and break it down.

All NFL odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, and they may change after the article is published.

Chicago Bears 2024 Win Total Odds

Bears Over/Under 8.5 Wins

• Over: -150
• Under: +144

Odds to Make the Playoffs: -120
Odds to Win the NFC North: +320
Odds to Win the NFC: +2200
Super Bowl Odds: +4000 (tied 15th-best)

Key Offseason Coaching Changes:

• New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron
• New defensive coordinator Eric Washington

Why Chicago Could Win Over 8.5 Games

• Caleb Williams is Set Up for Success
• Loaded New-Look Offense
• A Strong Defense

Rome wasn't built in a day, but the new-look Chicago Bears were certainly built to succeed this offseason.

A lot of their success will depend on the play of their rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. It's hard to doubt the guy considering the comparisons he's received for years now -- with Patrick Mahomes being the main one. Rookies aren't perfect right out of the gate, but as we saw with C.J. Stroud in 2023, they can bring a team from rebuilding to being a certified contender just like that.

Williams will have all the weapons he could ask for around him. The Bears already had D.J. Moore on the team after acquiring him in the trade with the Panthers that ultimately brought Williams to Chicago, as well. In Moore's first season with the Bears, he established himself as one of the best receivers in the league with 96 receptions, 1,364 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns. That was while being the clear top option on this team with not much around him.

Things certainly will look different this season after the Bears made another big wide receiver trade, acquiring six-time Pro Bowl wideout Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers. Oh, and the Bears made sure to draft Washington pass-catcher Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick in the NFL Draft, giving Williams arguably one of the best receiving trios in the NFL for his first season. Add in tight end Cole Kmet, free agent tight end signing Gerald Everett, and new starting running back D'Andre Swift, and it's easy to be excited about what this offense can do.

Defensively, the Bears were a squad that got better and better as the season went on. They were the best rushing defense in football, holding their opponents to just 1,468 yards on the ground and the second-fewest number of touchdowns (8). Chicago also tied for the most interceptions in the league (22). The big change for them defensively was moving on from veteran safety Eddie Jackson, replacing him with two-time All-Pro Kevin Byard.

At 8.5 games, it isn't out of the question that they can add at least two more wins to their 2023 total -- especially with all the changes they made. At least on paper, this team feels destined to level up, and covering their win total would just be the start of that in 2024.

Why Chicago Could Win Under 8.5 Games

• NFC North May Be Toughest Division in Football
• Potential Rookie Woes for Williams
• Matt Eberflus Has a Lot to Prove

You don't have to tell Bears fans about disappointment. They've been there and done that. So, let's dive into why this team could very well go under their 8.5-game win total.

It starts with this -- the NFC North is not an easy division to compete in. The Detroit Lions are one of the best teams in the league and are coming off a trip to the NFC Championship. After a good offseason for them, it's expected that they will be in the conversation all over again as the favorites for the division. Detroit has the second-best odds to win the NFC at +600 on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Chicago's rival Green Bay Packers aren't too far behind, especially after their playoff run that was highlighted by the emergence of Jordan Love. Green Bay is notably fifth in the NFC with +850 odds.

The Bears are expected to finish ahead of the Vikings, who reset this offseason with the exit of Kirk Cousins and selection of J.J. McCarthy -- but they were just a playoff team two years ago and also finished 7-10, like the Bears.

Other potential reasons include potential rookie woes that Caleb Williams may face in his first season. Taking to the NFL from college isn't an overnight occurrence, so there are sure to be hiccups along the way -- even with his gifted offense and improved offensive line. While I brought up Stroud earlier, he was a special case. Williams is one of the best quarterback prospects of the last decade, but tempering expectations is best for both the player and the team.

Then there's their head coach. Matt Eberflus still has a lot to prove as a head coach in the NFL. He's been with the Bears for two seasons, putting together a 10-24 record. Eberflus was kept on this offseason while the Bears made changes to the remainder of his coaching staff -- with new offensive and defensive coordinators being the major changes.

The record has gone up in back-to-back seasons, and Eberflus now has the best roster of his tenure -- there are few excuses for him now to not get over 8.5 wins.

It will be the NFC North that holds back the Bears the most, but there's no denying they have the potential to be this year's Houston Texans. That alone makes them one of the NFL's most exciting teams heading into 2024.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.