Broncos vs. Bears NFL Week 4 odds: Denver favored against Chicago in Caleb Williams Bowl despite 70-point defensive meltdown

Has an NFL team ever allowed 70 points in a loss and then been a road favorite in the immediate next game? This writer's guess is no, but that will be the case in Week 4 with the Denver Broncos opening as 3-point favorites on the SportsLine consensus in Chicago this Sunday in a matchup of winless teams. The game is already being coined as the "Caleb Williams Bowl," as the loser will likely have the inside track to picking first overall in the draft, guaranteeing the right to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams. He is the -500 favorite to go first at DraftKings.

The Broncos and Bears weren't expected to tank entering the season, but it has been an unmitigated disaster for both. Denver lost its first two games at home under new coach Sean Payton by just three combined points, but was embarrassed Sunday in a 70-20 loss in Miami.

The Dolphins could have kicked a chip-shot field goal at the end to break the NFL regular-season record for points (72 by Washington in 1966) scored but opted not to. Miami scored touchdowns on eight of its nine drives before Mike White replaced Tua Tagovailoa in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins scored 10 touchdowns, averaged 10.3 yards per play and rushed for 350 yards. The 70 points and 726 yards allowed were the most ever surrendered by the Broncos and the third-highest point total and second-highest yardage total in a game in NFL history. Russell Wilson has now started a season 0-3 for the first time in his career.

"It definitely feels bigger than one game,'' Broncos safety Kareem Jackson said. "Any time you lose the way we lost [Sunday], s--- is embarrassing. Absolutely embarrassing. Like I said, we didn't do anything we put in place."

The Bears franchise actually had a worse week, with QB Justin Fields blaming his coaching staff for his struggles during a press conference. Defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned under peculiar circumstances that reportedly involved the Bears' HR department. The effort on the field Sunday was equally horrific in a 41-10 loss in Kansas City, Chicago's 13th straight defeat.

The Bears are off to their first 0-3 start since 2016 and have given up 106 points, their second-most allowed through three games in team history. Head coach Matt Eberflus has a defensive background and called the plays Sunday. His unit has allowed at least 25 points in 13 straight games, tied for the longest such streak in league history. Eberflus is on a scorching hot seat and for some reason allowed a banged-up Justin Fields back in Sunday's game with his team trailing by 38 points.

If the 2024 NFL Draft were today, Chicago would pick first and Denver second, and both would want to take Williams without question.

The Broncos would have to work some cap magic to get rid of Wilson. Fields only has 2024 left on his rookie deal with a small cap hit of $6 million, and still would have some trade value. Chicago and Denver each have an updated season win total of over/under 5.5. 

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