The Bears (1-2) will host the Los Angeles Rams (1-2) Sunday at Soldier Field. Here are three things that should increase their chances of winning:
(1) Have a balanced offensive attack.
The Bears' passing game took flight last Sunday in Indianapolis, as Caleb Williams threw for 363 yards, the second most by an NFL quarterback this season and the most by a Bears rookie in franchise history. A similar breakout performance by the running game would greatly enhance the Bears' chances of extending their six-game home winning streak, which is the longest current streak in the league.
"Our desired identity hasn't changed," said offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. "We want the marriage of the run and the pass, we want to be multiple, we want to be able to utilize our personnel in certain situations. The promising thing of this past week was seeing some of our pass game come to life … The thing we're working on relentlessly is getting our run game going, improving that area so that we can play a balanced game."
The Bears are one of three NFL teams that has yet to rush for 100 yards in a game this season. They hope to change that Sunday against a Rams defense that ranks last in the league in total yards and 31st against the run. A productive ground game Sunday no doubt would sustain drives and make play-action passes more effective.
Asked what the Bears need to do to improve their rushing attack, Waldron said: "It's the rhythm of the run game, staying connected on our first- and second-level blocks right there, backs involved right there as far as trusting it. There have been flashes. We've done a great job in our practice reps, we've done a great job in our preseason reps, but the reality is we haven't performed up to our standards in games. For us, that goes back to the fundamentals, our techniques. We're reiterating them with those guys. The players have done a great job talking about full ownership of their role and responsibility on each play. As we go each week, we've got to keep getting better, keep improving."
(2) Contain Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Sunday's contest pits the youngest current NFL quarterback taken with the No. 1 overall pick in Williams, who is 22, against the oldest in Stafford, who is 36.
Stafford is still performing at a high level in his 16th NFL season, having completed 68.3% of his passes for 754 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and a 92.6 passer rating that ranks 15th in the league.
"His arm talent has not waned at all," said defensive coordinator Eric Washington. "He can make every throw on the field. He knows exactly what you're in, so our disguises will be critical. And he just knows how to get the football out of his hand, how to get them into, I would say, an ideal play."
Stafford works closely with Rams coach Sean McVay, who is considered one of the top offensive minds and play callers in the NFL. McVay's scheme features as much pre-snap motion as any in the league.
"This offense will really challenge our readiness and certain mechanical aspects of how we get lined up and execute from one snap to the next," Washington said. "It's big-play capable. There's a lot of things that happen before the ball is snapped. We've got to do a good job with our alignments, with our assignments and just making sure we have our feet in the ground ready to play."
The Bears will counter with a defense that has allowed the lowest passer rating in the NFL this season (66.2) and leads the league with 26 interceptions since the start of the 2023 campaign, including four in three games this year.
The Rams offense has been decimated by injuries early in the year. Los Angeles will face the Bears without star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua as well as three starting offensive linemen in left guard Steve Avila, left tackle Joseph Noteboom and center Jonah Jackson.
The Bears were back on the practice fields at Halas Hall to continue their preparation for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field.
(3) Build off last weekend's performance by Williams.
The Bears' rookie quarterback improved from Week 1 to 2 and again from Week 2 to 3 and hopes to stay on the same trajectory against the Rams.
As he continues to gain more experience, Williams no doubt will make quicker decisions and get the ball into his playmakers' hands rapidly, reducing sacks. He excelled at spreading the ball around last Sunday in Indianapolis, resulting in the Bears having three receivers with at least 70 yards in a game for the first time since 2018.
Williams' arsenal should be bolstered Sunday with the expected return of veteran receiver Keenan Allen, who has missed the last two games with a heel injury. The 6-2, 211-pounder is a precise route runner who boasts a large, quarterback-friendly catching radius that makes him an inviting target.
"To have … Keenan Allen back, it's going to be great for our offense," Williams said. "It's just something else that the defense has to worry about throughout this week and then obviously on game day. His special talent of getting open in a phone booth is going to be great for us."
While Williams passed for 363 yards and two TDs last Sunday against the Colts, he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Moving forward, the Bears want their rookie quarterback to take better care of the ball without losing his aggressiveness.
"For us, when it comes to turnovers, we know we're always going to be about the ball," Waldron said. "We talk about statistics that directly correlate to winning and losing football games, we know that turnover margin is huge. It's the No. 1 thing other than scoring points.
"For Caleb, [it's] knowing, 'Hey, when is the chance to take completions? When is the chance to keep a pocket clean by those unsackable plays where the ball is just out of his hand right now?' Then, when in the right moments, if he does have a free rush lane to break contain and get out with great ball security, to let some of those big plays come to life down the field."
