Bears D/ST or Chiefs D/ST: Toss-Up — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Too close to call — the edges cancel out.

Bears D/ST and Chiefs D/ST grade out even this week. the Bears's best edge is opponent giveaways (2.2 sacks allowed to 1.8), the Chiefs's best edge is lineup share (started rank 13 to 17) — and they cancel out. Start whichever player's game you trust more this week.

Bears D/ST

D/STCHIvs CAR

5.75.75.7 Projected Points

Toss-Up

Chiefs D/ST

D/STKCvs DEN

5.45.45.4 Projected Points

Toss-Up

Why Bears D/ST

Toss-Up

Toss-up — a middling defensive matchup (No. 12 this week): on the road, and 5.7 pts projected vs CAR.

CAR's offense gives up 2.2 sacks and 1.4 turnovers a game (2025), near league average.
Vegas has CAR at 21 points as 2.5-point dogs.
Under-started: only 8% of leagues have them in, 17th among defenses, against a No. 12 matchup.

Why Chiefs D/ST

Toss-Up

Toss-up — a middling defensive matchup (No. 14 this week): DEN protects the ball (1.0 turnovers a game), and at home.

DEN's offense gives up 1.8 sacks and 1.0 turnovers a game (2025), below league average.
Vegas has DEN at 20 points as 2.5-point dogs.
Started in 29% of leagues, 13th among defenses, in line with a No. 14 matchup.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Bears D/ST	Chiefs D/ST
Projected points	5.75.75.7	5.45.45.4
Projection rank	Proj.DST12	Proj.DST14
Started in	8% of leagues	29% of leagues
Opponent sacks allowed / game	2.2(2025)	1.8(2025)
Opponent turnovers / game	1.4(2025)	1.0(2025)
Opponent implied total	21.0	20.0
Home / away	Away	Home
Start/Sit record	0–0+1 toss-up	0–0+1 toss-up