NEWSLETTER
This probably isn’t the prime-time showdown NBC executives had in mind when they put the Rams and Bears on Sunday Night Football earlier this year, but it’s what they’re getting.
The Rams (5-4) are the two-time defending NFC West champions, but find themselves on the ropes. Their offense has regressed, their quarterback has taken a step back after signing an extension that could be worth north of $100 million dollars, their defense hasn’t delivered the hits as many once thought, and the injury bug has been nibbling everywhere throughout the roster. This isn’t quite where anyone thought the Rams would be after their run to the Super Bowl last winter.
On the other side of the field, the Bears (4-5) are in more dire straits. Their offense has taken major steps backwards, just as their quarterback has seen his production fall off a cliff. The defense has been good, but even the best units give up points when they are on the field too long (because the offense can’t sustain drives or put points on the board). Needless to say, this isn’t where we thought the Bears would be when the season started, either.
All that said, I’m not sure why NBC didn’t flex this game out of the prime-time spot. Perhaps the allure of two disappointing teams in major markets with a ton of stuff to talk about was too much to pass up. They say everyone loves a train wreck, but that’s not true. What *IS* true is that everyone loves a real “Loser Leaves Town” match where one team can cling on to real postseason hopes, while the other is left to play out the string while looking toward next season.
Never Tell Me The Odds:
The Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas lists the Bears as 6.5-point underdog against the Rams with an over/under set at 40. Chicago’s only road win against the spread came in Week 3 when it covered a 5-point spread against Washington on Monday Night Football.
Series History:
The Bears lead the all-time season series 53-35-3, but haven’t played the Rams in Los Angeles since 1994. But that game was played at Anaheim Stadium, which is technically not in Los Angeles.
Game Time, Broadcast Info, Officiating Crew:
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Broadcast Info: Sunday, November 17 at 7:20 CT on NBC-TV (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michelle Tafoya), WBBM-AM 780 and WCFS-FM 105.9 (Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, Mark Grote), ESPN Radio (Adam Amin, Jack Del Rio, Sal Paolantonio)
Referee: John Hussey
Expected Starters and Lineups:
Bears Offense Expected Starters:
Bears Defense Expected Starters:
Bears Specialists:
Rams Offense Expected Starters:
Rams Defense Expected Starters:
Rams Specialists:
Keep An Eye On …
Bears Offense: Rashaad Coward will have his hands full on Sunday with reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald lining up in front of him on a down-by-down basis. The Bears’ scheme to slow down the all-world defender wasn’t just top notch, it might have been the best thing the offensive brain-trust put together last year. Cody Whitehair, James Daniels, and Bryan Witzmann more than held their own against Donald. Asking the same of Coward seems unfair, but the bar has been set pretty high.
Bears Defense: Buster Skrine might have the toughest task of all Bears defenders, as he has the responsibility of keeping slot receiver Cooper Kupp in check. According to PFF, Kupp is the Rams’ highest-graded active receiver going into this week. And even after being shut out last week against the Steelers, Kupp is on pace for a 103-catch, 1,408-yard, 9-touchdown season. The Bears might want to keep an extra set of eyes on Kupp and perhaps use Eddie Jackson or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to bracket him in coverage.
Rams Offense: Jared Goff was broken by Vic Fangio last year. In his first 27 games under Sean McVay’s watchful eye, Goff averaged 279.9 passing yards and 2 touchdowns per game, while completing 64.1 percent of his passes and posting a 104.9 passer rating. But starting with his woeful performance against the Bears last season, Goff has seen his passer rating dip to 80.8, completion percentage drop by 4 percentage points, and has thrown almost as many interceptions (14) as touchdowns (16)..
Rams Defense: Jalen Ramsey will likely shadow Allen Robinson, making for a must-watch game-within-the-game matchup. The two were teammates in Jacksonville who often went against each other in practice. Between the built=in storyline of ex-teammates going against each other and both players being excellent at their respective position, this should be a joy to watch for football fans.
