Chicago Bears vs Los Angeles Rams Prediction

• Bears HC Matt Nagy has declared veteran Andy Dalton his starting QB in Week 1

• The Los Angeles Rams now have veteran QB Matthew Stafford under center 

• These two teams played last season in October and the Rams beat the Bears, 24,10

Bears vs Rams Odds

Odds taken 6 Sep, 2021 from DraftKings Sportsbook

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Bears vs Rams Week 1 Predictions and Picks

Take the heavily favored Rams – they look like the better team and with Matthew Stafford under center they will most likely cover the wide spread and then some at home over Andy Dalton’s Bears.

Our Pick:

Rams -7.5

Now that Chicago head coach Matt Nagy has declared veteran Andy Dalton his starting QB in Week 1, expect the Bears offense to be run efficiently and without flash but with enough proficiency to make the Rams work for whatever points they score, especially given that Chicago still has LBs Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith on defense.

Rams head coach Sean McVay seemed convinced he was just a quarterback away from NFL glory, so now that he has veteran QB Matthew Stafford under center, his Los Angeles Rams are expected to excel in the NFC as DT Aaron Donald’s defensive crew makes life miserable for opposing defensive coordinators.

The two teams have met each other 95 times (including 2 postseason games), with the Los Angeles Rams winning 38 games and the Chicago Bears winning 54 games, also with 3 ties.

Can the Bears Defense Disrupt Matthew Stafford’s Game Plan?

The Chicago Bears are known for their shut-down defenses – last year that side of the ball was ranked eleventh best in the league – so expect them to be just as effective under new defensive coordinator Sean Desai who was promoted from Safeties Coach at the start of 2022.

Their immediate job in Week one is to find an answer to the Rams under McVay’s via Stafford’s leadership, as in putting a stop to the QB’s speedy, accurate passes by flustering him with constant pressure from DT Akiem Hicks and DE Bilal Nichols and NT Eddie Goldman, who together had 9.5 sacks last season.

What will help the D-line’s efforts is some tight coverage from CBs Kindle Vildor and Jaylon Johnson so that Stafford, new to LA’s offense, will have trouble finding a place to throw the ball, plus a few defensive forced turnovers by the Bears’ D would certainly help their offense succeed.

Can the Rams’ Upgraded Offense be Effective in Week 1?

In the twelve years that Matthew Stafford has been a quarterback in the NFL for the subpar Detroit Lions, he completed almost 63 percent of his passes for over 280 touchdowns and 45,109 yards with only 144 interceptions on a team that’s gone 74-90-1 in that time.

Now it’s Stafford’s turn to find out if it was him or if it was the Lions at fault for that team’s mediocrity as he now gets to line up with a talented Rams roster that includes receivers Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, and Robert Woods as well as the talented TE Tyler Higbee and the pass catching RB Sony Michel.

That’s too many playmakers on offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell’s squad to make excuses for a loss, so a Week 1 win is a must for this upgraded bunch, and with the type of high-level defense, the Rams are fielding these days this offense should see plenty of playing time.

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Bears Key Player: (TEs) Cole Kmet and Jesse James

After the many ups and downs that Mitchell Trubisky experienced in Chicago under center, the Bears are now dealing with a new quarterback, Andy Dalton, an experienced veteran and excellent game manager who will get the job done without turning a lot of heads.

Dalton still has a big enough arm to hit his downfield receivers so look for Allen Robinson to stretch the defense with big-play attempts often, and that leaves the middle of the field wide open for Bears tight ends Cole Kmet and Jesse James who could play a big part in a Bears Week 1 win.

Kmet posted two touchdowns for the Bears in his rookie season last year while veteran James did the same in Detroit, two pass catchers who could give Dalton a huge advantage, especially if they can fight for extra yardage every time they catch a ball.

Rams Key Player: (RB) Sony Michel

In nine games last season for the faltering New England Patriots, running back Sony Michel averaged 5.7 yards per carry, a production that will be a welcome sight in Los Angeles where the running game was ranked tenth last season.

Michel, who was a big factor in the Pats 2018 Super Bowl win, was brought in to carry the bulk of the rushing load for the Rams and he is typically a dependable runner and receiver who can use his speed and power to get extra yards after the catch.

Having a reliable rushing attack will help QB Stafford settle into his role, so expect Michel to get his share of carries in Week 1 against a Bears team ranked 15th last season against the run, something that could give the Rams a huge edge in this one.

How to Watch Bears vs Rams

More Games to Watch on Week 1

• Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Minnesota Vikings vs Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns vs Kansas City Chiefs
• Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills
• Arizona Cardinals vs Tennessee Titans
• Seattle Seahawks vs Indianapolis Colts
• Miami Dolphins vs New England Patriots
• Green Bay Packers vs New Orleans Saints
• Baltimore Ravens vs Las Vegas Raiders