Bears vs. Raiders NFL Week 5 pick, spread, odds: Justin Fields named Chicago's permanent starting quarterback

Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy kept perplexing/angering the Bears fan base by insisting early this week that mediocre veteran Andy Dalton would remain the team's starting quarterback when healthy over promising rookie Justin Fields – Dalton missed the past two games injured. However, it has been proven in the NFL that once first-round rookie QBs get their first start they don't give it up. On Wednesday, Nagy apparently came to his senses by naming Fields the starter moving forward. The Bears are +5.5 on Sunday in Las Vegas.

Fields is 1-1 as the starter. He was beaten to a pulp in a Week 3 loss in Cleveland in which the Bears totaled just 1 yard net passing. Nagy gave up offensive play-calling in the wake of that embarrassment last Sunday to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, and Fields was much better in a 24-14 win over Detroit, completing 11 of 17 for 209 yards with a pick and rushing for nine yards.

Fields had a 64-yard pass to Darnell Mooney, the longest for the franchise since 2018. Fields also was sacked only once after being taken down nine times against the Browns. Chicago's three touchdowns vs. Detroit matched the team's total in the first three games.

"He's grown to this point. He's earned it. He's worked hard. And now he has this opportunity," Nagy said. To win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Fields is a +1000 fifth-favorite. He will be the first rookie QB the Raiders will face this season.

Dalton should serve as the backup Sunday as he was set to return to full practice this week, which means Nick Foles would be inactive – the Bears would love to trade him. Chicago will be without top running back David Montgomery, however, for the next 4-5 weeks due to a knee injury.

Perhaps consider a first-quarter bet on Chicago this week. Las Vegas has scored five points in the first quarter all season, and two of those points came on a safety. The Raiders are last in the NFL in first-quarter point differential at minus-23.

The Bears are 0-2 SU & ATS on the road this season, while the Raiders are 2-0 SU at home – winning both in overtime. Dating to last season, Las Vegas has failed to cover five straight games overall as a favorite.

This writer backed the Raiders when the spread was 4.5. Rookie QBs have not fared well overall this year.

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