Can LA Rams Break the Mystery that is the Chicago Bears?
Can the LA Rams figure out the enigma that is the Chicago Bears? They are on top in the NFC North. Confidence is growing every week as well. The Bears head back under the lights on Monday night for another test on the road against the Rams.
TIME: 8:15 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN; BETTING LINE: Rams 6 / TOTAL 55 Over -44.5 Over -115.
The Bears have been able to do just enough to win numerous times this season. They are 5-1and only have just one victory against a team with a winning record.
In their two games against teams currently above .500, the Bears lost to the Indianapolis Colts 19-11 on Oct. 4th and defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-19 on Oct. 8th in a humdinger of a game.
One thing the Bears are skilled at over the years and under the tutelage of multiple coaching staffs, it is building a solid defense. A squad that can give the offense just enough room to get some wins.
That defense has allowed quarterback Nick Foles to resurrect his career yet again. Foles rallied Chicago to a 30-26 victory against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3 to jump-start his season. He has gone 2-1 as the starter since. He guided the Bears to 23-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday. He completed 23 of 39 passes for 198 yards, a touchdown with one interception.
This time the Bears, in their second prime-time game in three weeks, will take on a team just as adept at defense.
The Bears are seventh in the NFL in total defense only allowing 337.2 yards per game. Chicago gives up 19.3 points per game which is seventh in the NFL.
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Rams Bring a Top Defense into Monday Night Football
The Rams are fourth on that list at 318.5 yards per game. The Rams give up 19 points per game (fifth).
The LA Rams also have some questions to answer as well. The fact that all four of their victories have come against teams in the lowly NFC East casts a shadow on how good they actually are. They went to work this week to figure out why the offense was so off track last week in a 24-16 road loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.
Los Angeles had enough mistakes on both sides of the ball to fall against an injury-riddled defense. What might have been the most troubling was the inability of quarterback Jared Goff to link up with his favorite target. That target being wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
Kupp was targeted nine times and that only converted to three receptions for 11 yards. But it wasn’t all Goff’s fault. Kupp has sure hands but dropped a quick sideline post route in the end zone on one second-half drive. Goff threw an interception on the next play.
Aaron Donald leads the NFL with 7.5 sacks. The all-pro had a hard time getting to 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers did use a quick-drop-and-throw strategy to protect Garoppolo, who is on the mend from a high ankle sprain. And it might be something the Bears adopt this week.
This, That, and a Dart Throw
The Rams are fairly healthy. Only tight end Tyler Higbee (hand) and running back Darrell Henderson Jr. (thigh) missed practice on Thursday.
The Bears had more issues. Among those not practicing Thursday: defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (illness), safety Sherrick McManis (hamstring) and cornerback Buster Skrine (ankle).
Those limited: safety Deon Bush (hamstring) and tackle Rashaad Coward (finger).
Chicago Bears vs LA Rams Matchup
| LA Rams | Category | Chicago Bears |
| 5-1 | W/L | 4-2 |
| 2-1 | HOME | 2-0 |
| 3-0 | AWAY | 2-2 |
| 4-2 | ATS | 3-3 |
| 1-2 | ATS HOME | 1-1 |
| 3-0 | ATS AWAY | 2-2 |
| 2-4 | O/U | 2-4 |
| 0-3 | O/U HOME | 0-2 |
| 2-1 | O/U AWAY | 2-2 |
The Dart Throw: Rams 23, Bears 17
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