The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears on Sunday at 5:20 pacific time in the first of back to back home games for L.A.
In advance of the game, here's an early look at the Bears, including notable additions, their top statistical performers in their most recent game, where they rank in certain statistical categories and key storylines.
Notable additions
- Traded for K Eddy Pineiro in May. Acquired from the Raiders for a conditional 2021 seventh-round draft pick, Pineiro beat out Elliott Fry for the starting job prior to the start of the regular season. He's made 12 of 15 field goal attempts and 16 of 17 extra point attempts so far.
- Drafted RB David Montgomery in April. The third round pick out of Iowa State leads the Bears in rushing with 129 carries for 466 yards and five touchdowns. Montgomery has also made contributions in the passing game with 18 receptions for 133 yards – good for fourth- and fifth-most on the team, respectively.
Top performers in Week 10
QB Mitch Trubisky completed 16 of 23 pass attempts for 173 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-13 win over the Lions.
Montgomery led the backfield with 17 carries for 60 yards. WR Taylor Gabriel (four catches for 39 yards), RB Tarik Cohen (four for 23) and Ben Braunecker (one for 18) were on the receiving end of each of Trubisky's touchdowns. WR Allen Robinson led the Bears with six catches for 86 yards.
Defensively, LB Nick Kwiatkoski contributed 10 total tackles, one sack and one interception filling in for the injured Danny Trevathan. His tackle count was second behind Roquan Smith's 11.
On special teams, Pineiro made 2 of 3 extra point attempts.
The Los Angeles Rams face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers for Week 10 at Heinz Field.
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Dante Fowler (56) heads for the end zone for a touchdown after recovering a fumble during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Rankings
Offense
- Points Per Game: 27th (18.0)
- Yards Per Game: 29th (262.2)
- Passing Yards Per Game: 30th (181.7)
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 28th (80.6)
Defense
- Points Allowed Per Game: Fourth (17.4)
- Yards Allowed Per Game: Ninth (327.3)
- Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 15th (233.3)
- Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: Ninth (94.0)
Early storylines to watch, and what they mean for the Rams
Is another low-scoring game on the horizon? It's certainly possible, and not just because the two teams combined for 21 points in their meeting last December.
This week's matchup presents almost a mirror image of the Steelers, in that the Rams will be facing another team with a statistically underperforming offense but a strong, opportunistic defense. In Week 10, the Bears used Kwiatkoski's interception to set up their third and final touchdown scoring drive against the Lions for a 20-6 lead, then caused two turnovers on downs in the final three and a half minutes to secure their 20-13 victory.
Chicago has 14 fewer takeaways than Pittsburgh, but its 12 on the season still share with five other teams for 14th-most in the league. The Bears' front seven will also present another challenging test for a depleted Rams offensive line, having recorded 25 sacks – tied with the Packers for 12th-most in the NFL.
All told, taking care of the football and protecting Goff will once again carry extra importance this week, as well as capitalizing on scoring opportunities in and near the redzone. And with the Bears committing the fifth-fewest turnovers this season (nine), it will also be up to the Rams defense to create takeaways of their own in order to give the offense additional chances to see the field.
