Defense will be on full display for Monday Night Football as the Chicago Bears (5-1) and Los Angeles Rams (4-2) battle. Kickoff from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is scheduled for 8:15 pm ET.
These teams come in as two of the best in football at preventing points. The Rams are allowing just 19 points per game (5th in the NFL) while the Bears are allowing 19.3 per game (7th overall). Regardless, with two teams that are not the most dynamic at scoring, defense should be on full display Monday night.
Chicago has won two games in a row, including a 20-19 win over Tampa Bay and a 23-16 win over Carolina last week. While they have yet to beat a team by more than seven points, four of their five wins have been by four or less. But they continue to find ways to win. They will look to find a way to win on the road against the Rams.
Los Angeles has gone 2-2 in their last four games. In that time, they beat two less than average teams in the New York Giants and Washington, but their two losses came to legitimate teams in the Bills and 49ers. The Rams will try to prove they can beat higher class teams as they host the Bears.
Los Angeles currently sits at -250 to win this game while the Bears are +205. In terms of the spread, the Bears are +6 playing on the road. In what is expected to be a defensive showdown, the over/under currently stands at 44.5.
Bears Defense Shouldering The Load
Allowing just 19.3 points per game, coach Matt Nagy knows that his defense can keep them in any game they play. The problem is that the defense has shouldered the entire load while the offense has been lagging.
After leading the Bears back to a 30-26 win over the Falcons in Week 3, Nick Foles has been the starting quarterback since. In the last three weeks, though, they have only averaged 18 points per game. With a Rams team that can beat you on both sides of the ball, Foles and the offense will have to be better.
Last week, Foles went 23-for-39 for 198 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Allen Robinson led the way through the air (5 receptions, 53 yards) while David Montgomery led the ground game (19 rushes for 58 yards). With the likes of Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey across the way, they will have to perform better to put points up in this one.
Rams Look To Get Back In Win Column
Quarterback Jared Goff has a plethora of weapons at his disposal on the offensive side. He is hoping to use some of those weapons to overcome the stout defense of Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and the rest of the Chicago Bears.
This season, Goff (1,570 yards, 10 touchdowns) has relied on receivers like Cooper Kupp (374 yards, two touchdowns), Robert Woods (329 yards, three touchdowns), and tight end Tyler Higbee (222 yards, three touchdowns).
In terms of the ground attack, Darrell Henderson leads all rushers on the Rams with 348 yards and three touchdowns.
With these defenses being so solid, special teams may play a factor for both teams. Sam Sloman is 7-for-9 in field goals this year, although he hasn’t hit one over 50 yards. For the Bears, Cairo Santos is 10-for-12, with his two misses being over 40 yards.
Taking The Bears +6
With two of the premier defenses in the NFL, this has the potential to be a low-scoring affair. While I like the Rams to win this one, six points seems pretty generous for a spread.
The Rams are 2-0 at home, so I wouldn’t blame you if you took them to win and cover in this one, but I am taking the Bears and the points. They have found a way to win even when they shouldn’t and, at the bare minimum, find ways to keep it close.
