Latest news with #Trubisky
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Stock up, stock down after the Bills' 38-0 preseason loss at Bears
The Buffalo Bills (0-2) were hoping to shake off last week's preseason loss to the New York Giants with a matchup against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears (1-0) on Sunday. Buffalo, like most teams that are hoping to compete for a Super Bowl, have not seen some of their starters on the field during this preseason and it looks like those absences could make a difference. The Bills not only lost to the Bears to drop to an 0-2 record in the preseason, but they lost 38-0 as it seemed like none of the three phases showed up over the course of the game. The Bills fell behind 7-0 after the first quarter, but at halftime, Buffalo trailed Chicago 28-0 as the Bears looked to be operating on all cylinders with Williams leading the way. While the preseason doesn't matter that much in the grand scheme of teams looking to make it to the postseason in some capacity, but a showing of this magnitude has to be disappointing to head coach Sean McDermott and company. Either way, here is the stock report for the Bills following Sunday's blowout loss to the Bears in the second of three preseason games: Stock Up: RB Frank Gore Jr. Gore came into this season looking to earn a roster spot behind starting running back James Cook and backup Ray Davis and this game had to do something to help his case. Gore not only carried the football eight times for 51 yards (6.4 yards per carry), but he also caught four of five targets for 30 yards to show his all-around game in this washout of a contest. Stock Down: Bills QB Room Mitchell Trubisky started this game for the Bills and while he did not perform well, the rest of the quarterback room did not do much to improve on what he did or didn't do. In terms of passer rating, Trubisky (64.6) played the best of the three quarterbacks that took the field, but Trubisky, Mike White, and Shane Buechele combined to throw for just 103 yards on 28 attempts. Stock Up: CB Jordan Hancock Like Gore, Hancock is looking to earn his way onto the Bills once training camp is over and is performance against the Bears should grant him some favor amongst the coaching staff. Hancock was a tackling machine against Chicago as he piled up eight tackles (five solo) including a tackle for loss to show how willing he is to get involved in every single play. Stock Down: Bills Defense Similar to the aforementioned poor performance of Buffalo's quarterbacks, the defense was poor in almost every facet of the game. It's tough to pick specific areas in which the Bills' defense struggled, but it's important to note that Chicago had 10 drives, the same as Buffalo, but they gained 348 more yards and ran 40 more plays than the Bills did.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears odds, picks and predictions
The Buffalo Bills (0-1) and Chicago Bears (0-0-1) meet Sunday in Week 2 of the preseason. Kickoff from Soldier Field in Chicago is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (FOX). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NFL odds around the Bills vs. Bears odds and make our expert NFL picks and predictions for the best bets. The Bills lost 34-25 in their preseason opener against the New York Giants on Aug. 9, but the quarterback battle behind starter Josh Allen was a bright spot. QB Mitch Trubisky, the incumbent backup, went 9-for-13 for 138 yards and a touchdown. QB Mike White also impressed, completing 8-of-13 passes for 112 yards and 2 scores, including a 39-yard strike to WR KJ Hamler. Both QBs made their case for the No. 2 role. The Bears opened their preseason with a 24-24 tie against the Miami Dolphins last Sunday. Starting QB Caleb Williams did not suit up, but veteran backup Case Keenum looked sharp, completing 8-of-10 passes for 80 yards and 2 TDs. Rookie WR Jahdae Walker had 3 catches for 41 yards and a TD in his debut. WIN YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE! The Huddle has been turning players like you into winners for over 25 years. This season, it's your turn. Custom fantasy football rankings, sleepers and tools are just a click away. Subscribe now! Bills at Bears odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:25 a.m. ET. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! Bills at Bears picks and predictions Bills 27, Bears 20 Moneyline BET BILLS (+130). Sunday night will mark our first look at Williams in Ben Johnson's offense, and while some growing pains are expected, the real edge lies with Buffalo. The Bills' QB competition for the backup role behind the MVP is one of the league's more intriguing battles. Both Trubisky and White have legitimate starting experience, and they'll be motivated to prove themselves against a Bears roster filled with players fighting for spots. That creates a sharp contrast in depth and stability at the most important position. Add in the fact that Buffalo is available at plus odds on the moneyline, and the value becomes even clearer. The Bills' depth at quarterback should give them the upper hand, making them the stronger play in this preseason matchup. Against the spread PASS. I'm going to stay away from the spread in this one. No need to play around with it when you are getting Buffalo at plus odds on the moneyline. Over/Under OVER 41.5 (-105). Both teams cleared this total in their preseason openers, and there's little reason to expect a different outcome Sunday. Buffalo's quarterback battle adds extra intrigue, with both Trubisky and White needing strong performances to impress the coaching staff. With motivated signal-callers on both sides, this matchup sets up well for another Over. FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS: Live games, analysis and more 7 days a week: Get ESPN+! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow @DrewPhelps05 on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. Access more NFL coverage: TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills vs. Bears: Players to watch in preseason Week 2
The Buffalo Bills hit the grass of Soldier Field this evening for a preseason tilt against the Chicago Bears. Tonight's matchup serves as the NFL's featured primetime game of preseason Week 2 — a scrimmage against a perennial powerhouse in Buffalo and a team many see on the rise in Chicago. Everyone understands that preseason football isn't the most compelling drama produced by the NFL juggernaut machine each year. That said, tonight's game should prove to be compelling must-watch TV for several reasons. Here are few reasons to tune in, which include my riffs on a few courtesy of Cam Anzalone (tweet below)… QB 2 should be Mitch Trubisky's job to lose We don't know yet if Mitch Trubisky gets the start, but could a more perfect opportunity await him against his former club? Some might argue that the battle for QB2 is up in the air. I see things otherwise. Though Mike White performed well backing up Trubisky in Week 1, this is Trubisky's job to lose. Folks will point to stats and say they matter most, but it's about the other things QB2 does that likely lands just as heavily with One Bills Drive. Plus, who can forget the summer Nathan Peterman played out of his mind? I'm watching Trubisky's pocket awareness this evening, and his ability to check down or expertly throw a would-be bad decision out of harm's way. Let's see if any bit of what once made Trubisky the second-overall pick shows up to illuminate Soldier Field this evening after giving us a bit of scrambling magic last weekend. What's up with Curtis Samuel? Curtis Samuel is the player who most-interests me this evening. If he plays, of course — heck even if he doesn't play. Samuel is in it right now, once-again injured. He's missed almost all of training camp, be it St. John Fisher University or back at One Bills Drive. Head coach Sean McDermott essentially put Samuel on notice, and no outside of the team is certain of his role in 2025. Bills reporter Sal Capaccio noted that most starters were out on the field with athletic trainers, which he said is usually indicative of someone not playing. Samuel was among those players. But it could be argued that, if healthy enough, Samuel should play. If he's still too injured to suit up, there may be bigger concerns to tackle. I see Samuel as the player with the most to lose in the next 10 days. I take a deeper dive into Samuel's situation Monday morning here at Buffalo Rumblings. Paging: Elijah Moore A phenom early, Moore has all but disappeared in recent weeks. That includes his work in Week 1 of the preseason. There's a ton of potential with Moore, and he has a perfect opportunity to seize the moment in the face of a decimated wide receivers room. Unlike Cam, I don't see Moore's roster spot hanging in the balance unless there's a far better option waiting in the wings. But what about Shavers… or waivers? Stacking wins on wins at DT This is about the new blood, mostly. It's true that we could stand to see more out of Buffalo's incumbent DT Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones, but we aren't sure they even suit up. Instead, I'll be focused in on the rookies (T.J. Sanders, Deone Walker) and Larry Ogunjobi. The latter of those three is set to miss the first six weeks of the season while suspended, so it's going to be important for him to leave a positive impression on his position coaches and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich. Cam Anzalone feels similarly about defensive end Michael Hoect, who has the same suspension looming. As for the rookies, it's really about seeing them stack plays while looking competent in routine situations. We've seen the splash plays already, but they need to 'wow' in typical moments too. The time is now, Bills safeties This is a 'when and with whom' Bruce Nolan moment. Publishing this before knowing if starters play makes for a challenging bit of editorial on my part. That said, if starters do get the nod: Who's back there with Taylor Rapp — is it actually Cole Bishop or Damar Hamlin? Bishop needs the reps, especially with Hamlin having proven capable regardless of what many Bills fans say. At this point, there's not a lot more to be said about Bishop. We simply haven't seen enough, and McDermott admitted that time is getting short for the 2024 second-round pick. Did he mean just this season, or beyond? In good news, Bishop did return to practice in full this past week. Hello Edmunds, our old friend A one-time feather in general manager Brandon Beane's cap, Edmunds left for greener (and real grass) lawns when he signed with Chicago in free agency. Edmunds may represent one of the most polarizing players from Buffalo's current tenure, but he doesn't lack talent. He did lack in splash plays for such a highly drafted player, and Bills Mafia focused in on him nearly as often as they did Josh Allen. What does Edmunds do this evening against his former team? It may only be preseason, but tonight will mean a bit more to Edmunds in ways similar to Trubisky. I expect Edmunds to be pumped-up, and ready to impress this evening. Yes, even in preseason.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears odds, picks and predictions
The Buffalo Bills (0-1) and Chicago Bears (0-0-1) meet Sunday in Week 2 of the preseason. Kickoff from Soldier Field in Chicago is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (FOX). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NFL odds around the Bills vs. Bears odds and make our expert NFL picks and predictions for the best bets. The Bills lost 34-25 in their preseason opener against the New York Giants on Aug. 9, but the quarterback battle behind starter Josh Allen was a bright spot. QB Mitch Trubisky, the incumbent backup, went 9-for-13 for 138 yards and a touchdown. QB Mike White also impressed, completing 8-of-13 passes for 112 yards and 2 scores, including a 39-yard strike to WR KJ Hamler. Both QBs made their case for the No. 2 role. The Bears opened their preseason with a 24-24 tie against the Miami Dolphins last Sunday. Starting QB Caleb Williams did not suit up, but veteran backup Case Keenum looked sharp, completing 8-of-10 passes for 80 yards and 2 TDs. Rookie WR Jahdae Walker had 3 catches for 41 yards and a TD in his debut. WIN YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE! The Huddle has been turning players like you into winners for over 25 years. This season, it's your turn. Custom fantasy football rankings, sleepers and tools are just a click away. Subscribe now! Bills at Bears odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:25 a.m. ET. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! Bills at Bears picks and predictions Bills 27, Bears 20 Moneyline BET BILLS (+130). Sunday night will mark our first look at Williams in Ben Johnson's offense, and while some growing pains are expected, the real edge lies with Buffalo. The Bills' QB competition for the backup role behind the MVP is one of the league's more intriguing battles. Both Trubisky and White have legitimate starting experience, and they'll be motivated to prove themselves against a Bears roster filled with players fighting for spots. That creates a sharp contrast in depth and stability at the most important position. Add in the fact that Buffalo is available at plus odds on the moneyline, and the value becomes even clearer. The Bills' depth at quarterback should give them the upper hand, making them the stronger play in this preseason matchup. Against the spread PASS. I'm going to stay away from the spread in this one. No need to play around with it when you are getting Buffalo at plus odds on the moneyline. Over/Under OVER 41.5 (-105). Both teams cleared this total in their preseason openers, and there's little reason to expect a different outcome Sunday. Buffalo's quarterback battle adds extra intrigue, with both Trubisky and White needing strong performances to impress the coaching staff. With motivated signal-callers on both sides, this matchup sets up well for another Over. FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS: Live games, analysis and more 7 days a week: Get ESPN+! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow @DrewPhelps05 on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. Access more NFL coverage: TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Bears QB Mitch Trubisky shares advice for Caleb Williams
The Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills shared a joint practice on Friday ahead of their preseason matchup on Sunday. All eyes during training camp have been on quarterback Caleb Williams as he hopes to improve from an up-and-down rookie season. Chicago also saw a familiar face in Bills backup quarterback -- and former Bears' No. 2 overall pick -- Mitch Trubisky, who led Chicago to wild-card playoff appearances in 2018 and 2020, losing both games. The Bears' 2018 wild-card loss concluded Trubisky's lone Pro Bowl season of his career, where he threw for 3,223 yards, 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Trubisky's 2020 wild-card loss to the New Orleans Saints marked his final game as a Bear. Following Friday's practice, Trubisky shared some words of wisdom with Williams through a post-practice media scrum. He reminisced on his four years quarterbacking the Bears but said he wished he "had it longer" and followed by suggesting Williams "take it in [and] enjoy the process." "All eyes are on you in this city," Trubisky said. "It's really a privilege and there's a lot of pressure that comes with that ... I miss that and it's a lot of fun to be the franchise guy especially in a city like this. I would just say to have fun with it and enjoy the process." 'I only had it for 4 years. I wish I had it longer. Take it in, enjoy the process'Mitch Trubisky on the advice he would give Caleb Williams as a first round QB Trubisky also reminisced about his emotions leading the Bears' offense from 2017-20, saying he did it enjoy it in the moment, but now wishes he enjoyed it "a little it more." "Not regret but I think just perspective now that I'm older," Trubisky said. Williams, among other Bears' starters, will make his debut under new head coach Ben Johnson on Sunday against Buffalo. Meanwhile, Trubisky is expected to see ample playing time as QB2 for the Bills. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
