For as many times as Matthew Stafford has faced the Chicago Bears – and he's beaten them a dozen times, more than any other foe – this one stands apart.

It's his first trip as a Ram to Soldier Field, where he's won four in a row.

And the opposing franchise finally (and justifiably) believes they have their franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams.

That's nothing new for Stafford, who's already collided with fellow top picks Jared Goff and Kyler Murray this month. But now he's the oldest former No. 1, facing the youngest. In fact, according to ESPN, Sunday marks the biggest gap of years between top draft selections in two decades.

And it comes at a time when Stafford is still proving to be one of the NFL's elite arms, further solidifying his Hall of Fame resume, and looking to guide the Rams out of an 0-2 start to the season and back into contention.

Leading Question

First order of business this week is starting faster. The Rams have trailed by at least two touchdowns in all three games, and have held a lead for fewer than 17 minutes, combined, all year. In that regard, they're exceedingly fortunate to be 1-2 not 0-3.

The Bears are in the same boat. They've led for only seven minutes 35 seconds in 2024.

"I don't think there is any magic solution," head coach Sean McVay said on Tuesday. "When we've been really good, usually we play consistently well throughout the course of the game and that's what we're looking to do is just play cleaner, more consistent, [and] more fundamentally sound."

Finding a winning script on offense against the Bears is a tall order, too. Among many other defensive accolades, Chicago has allowed the lowest passer rating in the NFL, with four interceptions.

"I feel like every time I go there, I play a really good defense," Stafford said this week. "Doing that again this time, a defense that's really talented at all three levels."

A week after his 45th game-winning drive and 36th fourth-quarter comeback, it would be a welcome relief to need neither this Sunday.

What We Know, What We Don't

While it's too early to formulate any concrete opinions about the 2024 Los Angeles Rams, especially with so many key contributors out of the lineup, a picture is starting to take shape.

Slightly above average offense, and on defense, well…

We discussed some of the good and bad on this week's Between the Horns.

McVay Making History

Including playoff games, Sean McVay goes into Sunday at Soldier Field with 78 wins, one shy of John Robinson's franchise record.

According to ESPN Research, at 38 years old, McVay can become just the second coach since the 1970 merger to take the franchise mark before turning 40. John Madden became the Raiders all-time wins leader at age 36 in 1972.

Fearsome 2024-some

While we're talking McVay and youth, his edge rushers came up in conversation this week.

Pro Football Focus credited the Rams with 27 pressures in the win over San Francisco, with first and second year pass rushers accounting for 22 of those!

As you may be aware, the contract value of edge rushers and defensive tackles has skyrocketed. Which made me wonder: If the Rams have managed to build a difference-making front with Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner, and Byron Young – all on rookie contracts – what opportunity does that present for the franchise in this window?

"Yeah, it's big," McVay said on his coach's show Monday. "You know, where are these high value positions that usually you have to use high draft capital or you acquire them through trades or free agency. These guys are making a bunch of money, and so how do you continuously build your team up?"

Pressure Situation

To underscore that point, the Rams' top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft rank first and second among rookies in pressures through the first three weeks of the season.

Collectively, the Rams are among the top teams in the league in pressures and hurries, and critically, are creating that havoc with only four rushers.

And per ESPN, the opposing quarterback this week ranks last in QBR (0.5), completion percentage (19%), and yards per dropback (-1.2) when under duress, as Williams has been throughout his first month as a pro.

This sets up as a great opportunity for the Rams rush to dial it in against vulnerable, but elusive, rookie signal caller.

Later Starts With L-A

One other thought on Fiske.

He mentioned on Rams Revealed this week that he nearly joined Williams at USC before choosing to spend his final year of eligibility at Florida State. He didn't think Los Angeles was for him, but now loves it and is basking in the culinary scene (among other perks of the Pacific).

Fiske grew up roughly an hour from Soldier Field, so he will have family and friends in attendance on Sunday afternoon.

Best of the Rest

One week after joining the NFL's career Top 10 for completions, Stafford needs 223 passing yards to eclipse Eli Manning for the 10th-most in NFL history (57,203). When detailing Stafford's Hall of Fame case this summer, I made clear I'm not a huge proponent of counting statistics. But these steppingstones undeniably lead him closer to Canton.

Kyren Williams has joined Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson on the short list of Rams who have scored at least 20 touchdowns in their first 25 career games. I continue to love what Williams delivers in the pocket in terms of pass protection. Ronnie Rivers, too.

The Bears allowed 150 rushing yards in their Week 3 loss at Indianapolis, most since Week 3 of last year at Kansas City (153).

Sunday features two of the three teams yet to have 100 rushing yards in a game in 2024 (Las Vegas is the other), per NFL Research.

The Bears have more turnovers (five) and takeaways (six) than offensive touchdowns (three).

Days since Rams last non-offensive score: 642 (as of Friday). That was Cobie Durant's 85-yard interception return against the Broncos on Christmas Day 2022. The Rams are long overdue.

Stafford's won plenty at Soldier Field, but the Rams have not. It's been more than 20 years since their most recent win on the shores of Lake Michigan.

For what it's worth, ESPN Analytics has this as the closest matchup in Week 4, giving the Rams a 50.7% chance to win.

And based on what last Sunday taught us about win probability, it's worth nada.

Watching the West

As we predicted (and feared) in this space, the Seahawks are good. Mike Macdonald is a difference-maker, and Seattle is off to a 3-0 start – the only team in the division at-or-above .500. They travel to Detroit this week, which presents a question for Rams fans: Are you rooting for the Lions (2-1 with a head-to-head win over LA) or Seahawks on Monday Night Football?

Arizona (1-2) lost at home to the Lions last week, in part because a pick-six got wiped away on an abysmal call at the two-minute warning. The Cardinals host the Washington Commanders (2-1) in Week 4, with Jayden Daniels outshining all the other rookie quarterbacks in the league.

And finally, the San Francisco 49ers (1-2) are bringing up the rear in the division standings, but that doesn't figure to last. They host the New England Patriots (1-2) and Cardinals the next two Sundays.

LA Rams 2024 schedule