The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ game Sunday night against the Rams in Los Angeles:
RICK MORRISSEY
Rams 23-17
The Bears are facing themselves here. Rams quarterback Jared Goff, the first overall pick in 2016, isn’t playing well. Neither is Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky, the second overall pick in 2017. The Bears are giving up 327.3 yards a game on defense, the Rams 331. The Rams are 2-2 at home, the Bears 2-2 on the road. So it’s a tossup. I just think the Rams “meh’’ will be a little bit better than the Bears’. Season: 5-4.
RICK TELANDER
Bears 22-20
These average Bears look like they’re headed to an average 8-8. Combined, the Rams and Bears are 9-9. If the Bears win, they’ll each be 5-5. Yawn. Zzzz. Both teams once thought they were contenders. Wake me when it’s 2020. Season: 6-3.
PATRICK FINLEY
Rams 18-13
Fun with itinerant-team statistics: the last time the Bears beat the Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was Dec. 8, 1968. The NFL and AFL were two years from officially merging, and Virginia McCaskey was 45. Season: 5-4.
MARK POTASH
Rams 24-13
The Bears rose to the occasion to throttle Goff and the Rams last year at Soldier Field. But, especially without Akiem Hicks and Danny Trevathan, they’re not showing that propensity this season. Trubisky was good vs. the Lions, but the Rams’ defense is a big step up. Season: 5-4.
JASON LIESER
Rams 13-3
Last week was a nice break from the usual Bears offense, but it wasn’t a breakthrough. The Rams are perfectly engineered to exploit a struggling offensive line and struggling quarterback. The only way the Bears can compete is if they score on defense and special teams, and they can’t count on that. Season: 4-5.
