The Chicago Bears travel to Los Angeles to battle the Rams on Monday Night Football in the thick of the NFC playoff race. The Bears head into the game with a record of 5-1, riding a red hot defense. Flipping the script over to the Rams, Sean McVay’s team will look to bounce back after a 24-16 loss at the hands of their divisional rival San Francisco 49ers last Sunday.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears had tons of question marks heading into the 2020 season, but are riding high through six games. The team is holding opposing offenses to 19 points a game, leading to a 5-1 record and a first-place spot atop the NFC North. Points have been hard to come by for Matt Nagy’s team early on. However, after scoring a combined 43 points over the last two weeks, Nick Foles and company have shown signs of improvement. After taking over for Mitch Trubisky in Week 3, Foles has yet to look back.
He has thrown for 441 yards and three touchdowns within those two weeks. However, they are still struggling to establish the run game. Chicago has yet to have a back reach the century mark midway through the season, leading to a 29th ranking in the league. The Rams run defense has struggled at times throughout the season, which is a key to victory heading into this matchup. If the Bears’ rushing attack can establish themselves early on, it should spell well in pulling off the upset.
Los Angeles Rams
After two weeks on the road, the Rams return home, undefeated at their new stadium. Jared Goff has completed 70 percent of his passing attempts for 475 yards and a touchdown in their two home wins. The rushing attack is much-improved from a year ago. The three-headed trio of rookie Cam Akers, second-year running back Darrell Henderson, and longtime veteran Malcolm Brown has rushed for an average of 135 yards per game through six weeks. What this matchup should come down to is the Rams’ ability to protect Goff with one of the best offensive lines in football.
The offensive line has only allowed 1.2 sacks per game early on. However, the team will have their hands full with the Bears’ pass rush. The Bears has 15 total sacks through six weeks, with the duo of Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks leading the way with eight sacks combined. The Rams defense led by star defensive tackle Aaron Donald has been rock solid through six weeks. Donald leads the league with 7.5 sacks and has two forced fumbles. He helped lead the team to a 5th overall ranking in yards per game at just under 340 per contest. If Los Angeles’s pass rush can get going, it could spell a long night for Foles and company.
Game Info
Date: October 26th, 2020
Start Time: 8:15 P.M. est
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Stadium: SoFi Stadium
TV Info: ESPN
Betting Odds Sponsored by Jazz Sportsbook
Points Spread: LAR -5.5 (-110) | CHI +5.5 (-110)
Moneyline: LAR -265 | CHI +215
Over/Under: O 45 (-110) | U 45 (-110)
With question marks on both teams, the 5.5 point spread is a daunting number to look at for either one. However, points will be hard to come by in a matchup between two elite defenses. The Rams boast better players across the board and should be able to move the ball more consistently. Take the Los Angeles money line, along with the under 44.5 point total.
Prediction
Expect this matchup to be a defensive battle between both teams. If the Bears’ pass rush ramps up, it could become a long night for Goff and the Rams ‘offense. However, look for Donald to be a disruptive force for Los Angeles and make just enough plays to hand Chicago their second loss of the season.
Final Score: Chicago Bears 17, Los Angeles Rams 20
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