In a game that’s expected to a defensive showdown, the Chicago Bears got things started early.
On the first play of the Los Angeles Rams’ opening possession, Bears safety Eddie Jackson forced a fumble of Rams running back Todd Gurley on the Los Angeles 38-yard line. Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix recovered the fumble, which gave the Bears the ball at the Los Angeles 46-yard line.
The Bears ran 7 plays for 15 yards and were unable to convert the takeaway into points. On fourth-and-nine, the Bears opted to go for it rather than kick a 49-yard field goal.
Kicker Eddy Pineiro had missed a 48-yard attempt on Chicago’s opening possession. Pineiro is 4 for his last 7 on field goals, and he missed an extra point last week.
On Los Angeles’ second series, they were driving down the field before linebacker Roquan Smith intercepted Rams quarterback Jared Goff at the Chicago 27-yard line.
That was Smith’s second interception of Goff in the last two meetings. He recorded an interception in last season’s meeting on Dec. 9, 2018.
The Bears and Rams are scoreless near the end of the first quarter.
