Game previews
A capsule look at this week’s games, with more on Sunday and Monday night showdowns.
TIME AND TV: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
OPENING LINE: Rams by 8
SERIES RECORD: Bears lead 54-36-3
LAST MEETING: Bears beat Rams, 15-6, December 9, 2018 LAST WEEK: Bears beat Lions 20-13; Steelers beat Rams 17-12
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES: Rams’ first home game since Oct. 13 is visit from tough Chicago defense that shut down last season’s high-flying LA offense . ... Bears face Rams in Coliseum for first time since Oct. 17, 1976 . ... Meeting of two solid defenses, inconsistent offenses. Rams still averaging more than 113 yards per game more than Bears . ... Chicago snapped four-game losing streak last week, withstanding late push by Detroit and its backup QB . ... Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky tied season high with three TD passes last week, though Bears spent huge chunks of game unable to move ball against struggling defense . ... Bears also allowed five sacks last week, matching season high in Week 1 loss to Green Bay . ... Chicago has punted on its first possession in eight of nine games, with exception being TD drive in Week 4 victory over Minnesota. ... Rams stumbling home from inept offensive performance in loss at Pittsburgh. Defending NFC champions have already surpassed last season’s total losses . ... In past 10 starts at home, Jared Goff is throwing for 327.9 yards per game with 23 TDs and four INTs.
... Bears held Todd Gurley to 28 yards rushing last year, his worst total since rookie season. Gurley’s touches, effectiveness down sharply this season. Ranks 23rd in NFL with 428 yards rushing over eight games . ... WR Cooper Kupp held without a catch on just four targets last week. Still ranks sixth in NFL with 792 yards receiving.