Prior to every Bears game this season, we ask a panel of experts one question to test their clairvoyant powers. The panel consists of ChicagoBears.com writers Larry Mayer and Nathan Smith; former Bears players Alex Brown, Patrick Mannelly and Jim Miller; and one guest celebrity.
This week's question is: How many points will the Bears allow in Monday night's road game against the Los Angeles Rams?
Our guest celebrity this week is David Haugh, who co-hosts the "Mully and Haugh" morning radio show on WSCR-AM 670 in Chicago and writes for the station's website.
Larry Mayer, ChicagoBears.com
Prediction: The Bears will allow the Rams to score 21 points (in a 27-21 win).
Comment: The Rams have topped 30 points in three games this season, but have scored 20, 17 and 16 points in their three other contests. In addition, the Bears defense has excelled the past two years against Los Angeles, not allowing a touchdown in a 15-6 win at Soldier Field in 2018 and limiting Jared Goff to 173 yards passing in a 17-7 loss in Los Angeles last year. The Bears offense struggled in both of those games and needs a better performance Monday night.
Nathan Smith, ChicagoBears.com
Prediction: The Bears will allow the Rams to score 17 points.
Comment: The Bears have two key trends going their direction the last three games: they've only allowed one touchdown per game and they've held their opponents to around 10 points less than their season average against non-Bears opponents. The Rams are averaging 25.3 points a game, and the Bears have matched up well against quarterback Jared Goff the last two seasons.
Alex Brown, former Bears defensive end
Prediction: The Bears will allow the Rams to score 20 points.
Comment: The Rams have a good offense led by a pretty good quarterback in Jared Goff. They have the weapons outside and run a lot of crossing routes and misdirection-type plays. This game will be won by the defense, which needs to continue getting takeaways.
Jim Miller, former Bears quarterback
Prediction: The Bears will allow the Rams to score 20 points.
Comment: The Rams average over 25 points a game. The Bears defense should clip the Rams' average by a bit, and the Bears offense must do its job and score more consistently.
Guest celebrity: David Haugh, WSCR-AM 670
Prediction: The Bears will allow the Rams to score 20 points (in a 23-20 win).
Comment: I believe the Bears defense has regained its swagger, with an overpowering pass rush, swarming linebackers and a suffocating secondary. I believe quarterback Nick Foles provides a presence hard to quantify, one every offense needs and especially appreciates on the road on Monday Night Football. I believe the Bears have developed resolve and resilience through every comeback and question about their legitimacy.
Recap of last week: Patrick Mannelly was just as accurate with last week's prediction as he was throughout his Bears-record 16 seasons as a long-snapper. Mannelly correctly predicted that the Bears would score 23 points against the Panthers, which they did in a 23-16 victory at Bank of America Stadium.
Give us your take: All six of our panelists are predicting that the Bears will permit 17-21 points to the Rams Monday night. What do you think? Register your vote below.
