–After the Bears failed to stop Saquon Barkley, easily the best back they’ve faced this year, the defensive front is under fire for its run-stopping ability.
They realize stopping the NFL’s leading runner, Todd Gurley II (1,649 yards), will be even more difficult considering how potent the Rams offense is overall than what they saw last week against the Giants.
“He knows how to tote the rock, he knows how to protect the ball, he is the epitome of what a running back should be in this league,” defensive end Akiem Hicks said about Gurley.
The Bears have had both successful and unsuccessful rebounds after defeats. They lost to New England trying to come back from a rough loss in Miami earlier.
“For us, it’s really just about getting back on track and going in the right direction, right?” Hicks said. “We want our arrow to keep pointing up. And in order to do that we’ve got to defeat our next opponent. And it just so happens that it’s the Rams and it’s in prime time.”
–Aaron Donald’s presence and 16.5 sacks have the attention of a Bears offensive line that has given up nine sacks in two games, the most they’ve allowed in any two-game stretch this season.
“Everybody has to come focused and prepared, get ready to throw hands because he’s going to hit you in the mouth if you don’t hit him,” right tackle Bobby Massie said.
Massie said the Bears line cherishes the chance to be tested, even after they allowed a season-high five sacks last week.
“Absolutely, because it’s competition,” Massie said. “That’s what football is all about. So you play well against him and your game will get elevated. That’s what you’ve got to understand.”
So the plan has to be double-teaming at times, much like opponents have double-teamed the Bears’ Khalil Mack.
“I mean, he can be a game changer,” Massie said. “Obviously if you’ve seen him, if you don’t get four sets of hands on him at times he’s going to destroy the offense. So you’ve just got to be prepared, be ready.”
There is some curiosity about Donald even on the other side of the football, a sort of professional courtesy. Defensive end Akiem Hicks admits Donald’s 16.5 sacks with four games left is intriguing.
“How far can he go,” Hicks said. “Can he get (Michael) Strahan’s record (22.5). We’ll see.”
–The “Bear weather,” tradition of December football in the cold always assumes warm-weather or dome teams struggle when they come outdoors to play in Chicago, but that’s not always the case. Plenty of teams have come to Chicago from warmer climates and won in the past.
The Bears would like to think the Rams are at a disadvantage, but won’t assume it.
“I’m not going to be getting into too much of the psyche of the Rams and, really, what they’re accustomed to and where they’re playing because this is a good team,” wide receiver Allen Robinson Jr. said. “I’m sure they’ll be a good team in the cold and the hot, whatever. So we know that they’re going to bring their best to Soldier Field and that’s what we’re prepared for.”
–Hicks admitted seeing everyone come at him last week when he got a chance to imitate William “The Refrigerator” Perry and carry for a touchdown was a little different.
“When you’re on the other side as a career defensive tackle, it gets a little scary,” he said. “But we got it in there.”
It wasn’t Hicks’ first career touchdown. He had one in 2015 while playing for New England, after he picked up a fumble and scooted in.
–Becoming the only other player besides Jerry Rice in NFL history to have at least 150 receiving yards and throw a touchdown pass in the same game carried special significance for Bears running back Tarik Cohen.
“It means a lot to me because Jerry Rice came from the HBCU (Historical Black Colleges and Universities) also, and I just want to keep showing people that there are players in the HBCU. So everybody should scout them more.”
–Trubisky will be trying to beat his offseason roommate, of sorts. Trubisky last offseason lived for a few weeks in California with Rams quarterback Jared Goff, and worked out with him.
“It was fun,” Trubisky said. “It was a good time. We were just out there relaxing in the offseason, training a little bit.
“I got to know him. We’re pretty tight, good friends. He’s an awesome dude. We pushed each other in the offseason. We worked with the same quarterbacks coach out there and trainers, so just getting better in the offseason, enjoying some down time and enjoying each other’s company.”
“And when he was in Washington and I was in Philadelphia, we crossed (paths there). And him coming up and obviously doing such an unbelievable job now the last couple of years, I’m happy for him. I have a lot of respect for him. He really is a great motivator. He’s a teacher. And then he’s creative in what he does, yet he’s simple. Guys can play fast. I just think he’s a really good coach.”
–The coaching battle in this game looks as interesting as any. It seems like two mad scientists trying to blow up each other. The Rams’ Sean McVay is known for his wide-open offense, as is Nagy.
“I obviously have watched his offenses over the last couple of years,” Nagy said. “He’s had some game plans that he’s put together where you sit there and you say ‘man, that was pretty impressive.'”
Nagy said the two crossed paths regularly when he was in Philadelphia as an assistant and McVay was in Washington.
“I have a lot of respect for him,” Nagy said. “He really is a great motivator. He’s a teacher. And then he’s creative in what he does, yet he’s simple. Guys can play fast. I just think he’s a really good coach.”
Among the intriguing numbers matchups in this game when the Rams have the ball is the fact the Rams gain more yards on first down plays (7.10) than any NFL team. And the Bears allow the fewest yards on first downs.
BY THE NUMBERS: 38 — The number of first downs by penalty for the Bears offense. It leads the league, and is seven more than any other team.
