The Rams beat the Lions in Week 13 and are getting set for yet another game in primetime against the Chicago Bears. The Rams will meet the Bears on Sunday Night Football at Soldier Field with the opportunity to clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Here's an early look at the Chicago Bears (8-4):
Offense
- Points Per Game: 5th (28.7)
- Yards Per Game: 20th (351.6)
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 16th (115.4)
Key Contributors
- RB Jordan Howard: 178 Att, 612 Yds, 5 TDs
- RB Tarik Cohen: 59 Rec, 659 Yds, 4 TDs
- WR Anthony Miller: 30 Rec, 399 Yds, 6 TDs
The Bears come in at No. 5 in points per game in 2018 and have been the best on the ground through 13 weeks. Chicago averages 115.4 rushing yards per game in 2018 and are led by third-year running back Jordan Howard, who is yet to surpass 100 yards rushing in a game this season.
Joining Howard in Chicago's run game is quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who is the team's second-leading rusher, racking up 363 yards and three touchdowns with his legs in his second season. Trubisky has also thrown 20 touchdowns to eight different receivers in 2018, including wideout Anthony Miller, who leads the team with six touchdowns while floating in and out of the starting lineup.
Defense
- Points Allowed Per Game: 4th (20.1)
- Yards Allowed Per Game: 4th (317.9)
- Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 2nd (85.8)
Key Contributors
- OLB Khalil Mack: 9.0 Sk, 5 FF, 33 Tkl, 7 TFL, 11 QBHits, 1 Int, 1 TD
- DT Akiem Hicks: 5.0 Sk, 3 FF, 45 Tkl, 10 TFL, 13 QBHits
- CB Kyle Fuller: 6 Int, 18 PD, 44 Tkl
The Bears have made their money on defense as they sit atop the NFC North. First-year Bear, outside linebacker Khalil Mack, leads the team with 9.0 sacks. Chicago's defense has stopped the run well, allowing just 85.8 yards rushing per game, however the defense has allowed north of 100 yards in its last two games.
The Bears lead the league in interceptions with 21, and fourth-year cornerback Kyle Fuller has certainly made his contributions to that number. Fuller leads the team with six picks and is joined by 10 other Bears with at least one interception this season. Chicago's plus-12 turnover ratio also leads the NFL.
Quarterback
- QB Mitchell Trubisky: 10 G, 2,469 Yds, 20 TDs, 65.4 % Cmp, 9 Int
- QB Chase Daniel: 5 G, 515 Yds, 3 TDs, 69.7 % Cmp, 2 Int
Chicago enters Week 14 with some uncertainty at the quarterback position.
Second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has started 10 games for the club and accumulated 2,469 yards passing and 20 touchdowns with nine interceptions this season. Trubisky has been battling a shoulder injury since the end of the Week 11 game against the Vikings and has missed the last two weeks because of it.
Trubisky has been replaced by nine-year veteran quarterback Chase Daniel in Weeks 12 and 13. Daniel has played in 62 games as a professional, mainly as a backup. In his two starts in place of his sophomore counterpart, Daniel has averaged 257.5 yards and completed 69.74 percent of his passes, with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Last Week
- L 30-27 vs. New York Giants
The Bears lost to the Giants 30-27 in overtime on the road in Week 13. Daniel took the reigns for the Chicago offense and threw for 285 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions in a game that was close throughout.
After exchanging blows with the Giants, Daniel and the Bears tied it up at 27 as time expired. But they were unable to stop the New York offense in overtime, allowing a 44-yard field goal by Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas, which gave Chicago its fourth loss of the season.
Head Coach
Bears first-year head coach Matt Magy is 8-4 (.667) since taking his first head coaching job in Chicago. The 16th head coach in Chicago's history, Nagy joined the Bears after leaving his offensive coordinator position in Kansas City after just one season as OC under head coach Andy Reid.
Nagy started his career in the NFL in 2008 and spent five seasons in Philadelphia as a coaching intern and assistant, before taking on a role in offensive quality control. Nagy moved to Kansas City with Reid and won back-to-back AFC West Championships in 2016 and 2017 both as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.
