How Texans Are Idioticly About To Hand #1 Pick To Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are almost guaranteed to lose on Sunday. Justin Fields is out for the game. So is Teven Jenkins. It sounds like Kyler Gordon may not play too. Most of their starters from Week 1 aren't going to play. It would be stunning if the Minnesota Vikings don't win by double digits. That means they should lock up the #2 pick in the 2023 draft. The more interesting game will be down in Indianapolis between the Colts and Houston Texans. If Houston wins, that would give Chicago the #1 pick. People have a hard time believing the Texans would want any part of winning that game.

Except there is no standard procedure involved with what's happening in Houston. The problem ownership and the front office might not get full compliance from the coaching staff. There are rumblings, according to NFL Network, that head coach Lovie Smith might get fired after the season ends. That would make him the second coach in two years the organization has fired. So ask the obvious question. What incentive does Smith have to lose the game and hand Houston the #1 pick? It would be far more in his personal interests to stick it to them by beating the Colts.

The Chicago Bears have reasons to be optimistic.

This isn't a forlorn hope. Don't forget the Texans played Indianapolis to a draw in September, back when the Colts were far healthier and less dysfunctional. Now they've lost six in a row and are starting Sam Ehlinger at quarterback. Houston should've beaten them in the first meeting. So they'll have confidence they can do it the second time. Of course, that depends on whether they can slow down Indy's ground attack. The Texans have struggled to stop the run all year. Smith must utilize all of his coaching experience to secure a win, even against a bad opponent.

The good news is he's no stranger to these situations. Smith has a track record of finishing seasons on a high note. His team won back-to-back games to close out 2007 after going 5-9. They did the same thing again in 2009. He famously battled to win the season finale in 2011 after going from 7-3 to 7-8 when there were zero reasons to play the starters in the finale. Smith is wired for these moments. Maybe he can do the Chicago Bears a solid by handing them the most valuable pick they've held in 76 years.