LAR @ CHI, Divisional Round, SUN, JAN 18th Game Thread - CHI +3.5, O/U 51.5

[adam]

Here we go. Well-traveled, warm-weather Rams playing at Soldier Field. 

This is going to be a shootout. 

Bears start as 3.5 underdogs, which seems about right. 

[Stinger226]

I want the worst coach. Pick your poison, I think Eagles.

[Bears4Ever_34]

Ugh, SF couldn't just go away and give the Bears a better shot at getting to the NFC Championship game. Beating the Rams is going to be a monumental challenge.

[adam]

49ers pull the upset, wow Philly played terrible. Lazy.  Rams @ Bears.

[Stinger226]

Rams won't be easy but it's going to be about our offense.

[adam]

Bears beat the Eagles in the regular season, and the Eagles beat the Rams. 

[Bears4Ever_34]

Rams haven't played good football, as of late. They barely beat a 7-9 Panthers team. Their defense stinks. The Bears should be able to move the ball well against them. However, those two receivers make them as scary an offense as there is in football. Nacua could break the all time single game yardage record, and I wouldn't be surprised. The Bears have nobody who can cover him.

The road to a Superbowl for Chicago would likely mean they'd have to beat the Rams and Seahawks. Not getting my hopes up for this one, but let's hope for a snowstorm.

[BearFan PHX]

We can beat or lose to pretty much any of these teams. Its up to us.

[Stinger226]

2 hours ago, Bears4Ever_34 said:

Rams haven't played good football, as of late. They barely beat a 7-9 Panthers team. Their defense stinks. The Bears should be able to move the ball well against them. However, those two receivers make them as scary an offense as there is in football. Nacua could break the all time single game yardage record, and I wouldn't be surprised. The Bears have nobody who can cover him.

The road to a Superbowl for Chicago would likely mean they'd have to beat the Rams and Seahawks. Not getting my hopes up for this one, but let's hope for a snowstorm.

Stafford played in a dome forever and then sunny CA. When you get old the cold weather hurts just a little more. It's not about the wide outs, it's taking down Stafford.

I thought before we would be lucky to win against GB but I'm now a believer,we can beat anybody. Each week JJ plays a little better. Gordon is now getting reps and I think D Jackson is a better pass defender. Booker keeps playing better and Sweat plays better against better teams. 

[Stinger226]

Just heard we are playing Sunday 2 or 530

[adam]

3 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Just heard we are playing Sunday 2 or 530

Yep, have to wait for the outcome of the PIT/HOU game. 

[adam]

Temperatures in the teens, winds in the teens. Real feel is projected to be below zero wind chills. The Bears have been playing in crappy weather games for over 6 weeks now. LAR has not, that feels like it favors the Bears. With the home crowd + crappy weather, advantage Bears, and they will need all of them.

6 of the last 7 games for the Bears have been under 42 degrees. The warmest game was 42 degrees in Philly with 18mph winds and gusts in the 20s. The other 5 games were below 37. The Cleveland game is about as close as it will be on Sunday. 

Stafford has never played in a game below 20 degrees apparently. Teens with winds in the teens are on a whole different level of cold too. He hurt his hand in the CAR game and is almost 38. That cold will affect him.

The last cold Rams game I could find was December of 2024 in NY against the Jets. 23 degrees. Stafford was 14-19, 110 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. They relied heavily on Williams running the ball to beat the terrible Jets.

 

[Lucky Luciano]

7 minutes ago, adam said:

Temperatures in the teens, winds in the teens. Real feel is projected to be below zero wind chills. The Bears have been playing in crappy weather games for over 6 weeks now. LAR has not, that feels like it favors the Bears. With the home crowd + crappy weather, advantage Bears, and they will need all of them.

6 of the last 7 games for the Bears have been under 42 degrees. The warmest game was 42 degrees in Philly with 18mph winds and gusts in the 20s. The other 5 games were below 37. The Cleveland game is about as close as it will be on Sunday. 

Stafford has never played in a game below 26 degrees apparently (in GB in 2014). So it has been 11 years since he last played a game below freezing. Teens with winds in the teens a whole different level of cold too. He hurt his hand in the CAR game and is almost 38. That cold will affect him.

 

the weather can be a false reading. i say this as i remember the 49ers coming to soldier field for a playoff game and it effected them not at all. they kicked our ass back in the 80's

[fudgeripple2000]

Sunday game with the temp in the teens.  Things to consider:

-ball will be rock hard 

-Stafford has a sprained index finger.   Even mild sprains do not heal in a week.  And Stafford doesn't wear gloves.  Last years divisional round was in the 30s temp wise.  I'm from wyoming and played a football game in -37 degrees and that didn't feel as cold as 0 degrees with humidity.  This feels like a running game day.

[AZ54]

17 hours ago, Bears4Ever_34 said:

Rams haven't played good football, as of late. They barely beat a 7-9 Panthers team. Their defense stinks. The Bears should be able to move the ball well against them. However, those two receivers make them as scary an offense as there is in football. Nacua could break the all time single game yardage record, and I wouldn't be surprised. The Bears have nobody who can cover him.

The road to a Superbowl for Chicago would likely mean they'd have to beat the Rams and Seahawks. Not getting my hopes up for this one, but let's hope for a snowstorm.

Nacua is not fast.  He’s quick but in man coverage Panther DBs were able to stick with him.  He will destroy zone coverage and he has great hands for contested catches.  Stafford  trusts him and will throw the ball his way even when he’s covered.  

[adam]

6 hours ago, Lucky Luciano said:

the weather can be a false reading. i say this as i remember the 49ers coming to soldier field for a playoff game and it effected them not at all. they kicked our ass back in the 80's

I understand that it may not play a huge role, but it will be a factor to consider. There are a lot more examples of warm teams struggling in the cold than playing well. 

In that game you reference, it was playing the SF team that won back to back SB's, with Joe Montana at 32 and Jerry Rice at 26, so I don't know if any factor mattered against that team.