GAME PREVIEW: Bears Hope To Maul Rams Sunday
By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 23, 2013 6:30PM
Jay Cutler, Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman are all ruled out for Sunday’s game between the Bears and St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. But, with six games of the season remaining, a win on the road against the 4-6 Rams can help the Bears’ playoff hopes. Here are some headlines from Halas Hall heading into Sunday’s contest.
1. There are bigger things to concern people than a simple football game.
Illinois and Missouri residents are only now beginning to rebuild after the destruction left behind from last week’s tornadoes and severe weather.
Both the Bears and Rams are contributing to relief efforts. The Bears organized an online auction to raise funds for the relief efforts featuring game-worn jerseys from last Sunday’s mudder against Baltimore at Soldier Field.
Proceeds from the auction will go to the American Red Cross and the Bears will match up to $100,000 of the auction proceeds. The Rams stepped up and donated a 16-person suite at the Edward Jones Dome for Sunday’s game that includes pre-game passes and complimentary food and drink. The Bears also received permission from Washington (Ill.) High School to print t-shirts with the school’s logo that were worn around Halas Hall this week.
NFL rules don’t allow the Bears to honor Washington High School on their uniforms and, as we know full well, “NFL” sometimes stands for “No Fun League.”
2. The Bears’ offense has been a highlight of a middling season with the emergence of the passing game.
Cutler and Josh McCown have big targets in the passing game in receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery and tight end Martellus Bennett. The improved passing game has kept defenses from keying on running back Matt Forte, himself a receiving threat. But there’s still some improvement to be made, and coach Marc Trestman said the Bears can work on their red zone offense.
3. Brother vs. Brother
Another story heading into Sunday is a possible matchup between brothers, Bears rookie offensive lineman Kyle Long and his brother, Rams’ defensive lineman Chris Long, with their father, Raiders Hall of Famer and Fox NFL analyst Howie Long, in attendance.
The brothers couldn’t have had more different routes to the NFL. Chris, the elder Long, has the blue ribbon pedigree, chosen second overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. Long is one of the anchors in an emerging Rams defense. He recorded 11.5 sacks last season and is having a monster 2013 campaign.
Kyle Long, chosen 20th overall in the 2013 draft, had draft analysts scratching their heads because he didn't fully commit to football until he transferred to Oregon in 2012. He's a work in progress but has shown flashes of talent and a quick learning curve as has become an integral part of a vastly improved Bears offensive line.
It's a juicy subplot as the brothers will take the field against each other for the first time but they'll up on opposite ends of the line of scrimmage. Because Kyle plays right guard and Chris anchors left end they may only face each other if the Rams use stunts in their defensive play calling. Kyle Long will have his hands full with Rams end Jordan Mills.