CHARGERS VS. BEARS: WHO HAS THE EDGE?
CHARGERS (2-4) vs. BEARS (2-5) When: 5:20 p.m., today Where: SoFi Stadium TV/Radio: Ch. 4; 98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish) Line: Chargers by 8½ Notable injury designations
Chargers: QUESTIONABLE: TE Gerald Everett (hip), S Alohi Gilman (heel), WR Jalen Guyton (knee), DB Deane Leonard (hamstring), DL Otito Ogbonnia (knee), WR Joshua Palmer (knee).
Bears: OUT: OL Nate Davis (ankle), QB Justin Fields (right thumb), DB Terrell Smith (illness). QUESTIONABLE: DB Jaquan Brisker (illness), OL Dan Feeney (knee), DB Eddie Jackson (foot).
What's at stake: A victory over the Bears would put the Chargers back on track after losses to the Cowboys and Chiefs the past two weeks. A loss to the Bears would sink the Chargers deeper into the muck and mire found at the bottom of the NFL's overall standings. All of the games matter, but this one really matters for a team that's underperformed in each of its first six contests. Even the Chargers' two victories, narrow wins over the Vikings and Raiders, weren't exactly crisp and clean. Defeating the Bears would restore some, but certainly not all, of the luster to the Chargers' season.
Who's better: Going into the season, the Chargers were expected by most pundits to be a playoff team for the second consecutive year. The Bears were not expected to win as many games as the Chargers and no one considered them contenders.
Matchup to watch: Once again, the battle for the Chargers will be QB Justin Herbert versus his fractured left middle finger. This past week, he stopped wearing the white glove he had been wearing in practices and games since he was hurt Oct. 1against the Raiders. He said the glove enabled him to grip the football better, but it also was bulky and it ripped off at one point in the game against the Chiefs after it stuck to the ball as he attempted to make a play.
Chargers win if: The Chargers spoke at great length over the past days and weeks about the need to play complementary football. What does it mean? It means their offense has to play as well as their defense and their special teams have to play as well as their offense and their defense. It hasn't happened often that all three phases of the game have clicked together at the same time.
Fantasy sleeper: Rookie wide receiver Derius Davis has been a revelation since the start of training camp in late July, fielding punts and kickoffs and racking up good yardage in his returns. He seems due for a long return or possibly a touchdown return. He's also been used on sweeps to augment the Chargers' rushing game, and several times he seemed poised to break off a touchdown run. Palmer's knee injury could thrust Davis into a greater role.
Prediction: Despite protests to the contrary from the Chargers during the run-up to the game against the Bears, their season seems to be on the brink. Naturally, they want to win every game, but this is one they really, really, really need to win. Chargers 21, Bears 20.