Bears predictions: Week 8 vs. Saints

The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ game Sunday against the Saints at Soldier Field:

RICK MORRISSEY

Saints, 24-20

Three touchdowns by the Bears’ defense ought to be enough to win the game. Kidding. Sort of. Actually, if there’s a game in this tough stretch of the schedule for the offense to get better, it’s this one. The Saints’ defense is last in the league in passing touchdowns allowed. But, still. Season: 4-3.

RICK TELANDER

Saints, 24-21

Drew Brees is that rare quarterback who seems ageless. Bears quarterbacks seem to age like old beer cans. Explain. I can’t. This could be the Bears slide toward .500 we all have feared. Season: 4-3.

PATRICK FINLEY

Saints, 18-13

Obligatory Brees cold-weather stat: with the Saints, he’s 3-4 in games where the temperature is 40 degrees or colder. Two of those losses came at Soldier Field, in 2007 and 2008. But if the Bears don’t play better offensively, it won’t matter. Season: 6-1.

JASON LIESER

Bears, 21-20

After weeks of holding up their record as proof that everything’s fine, the Bears got smacked by reality against the Rams. They’ll finally grasp the urgency, and it’ll bring out their best effort of the season as they shock the Saints. Season: 3-4.

MARK POTASH

Bears, 24-23

The Bears have a habit of winning when you least expect it, and expectations are low after a dreadful performance vs. the Rams. The last time the Bears lost, they responded with a victory over Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Season: 4-3.