close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears odds, expert picks, how to watch: Can Caleb Williams continue to improve?
news

Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears odds, expert picks, how to watch: Can Caleb Williams continue to improve?

Last week, Chicago Bears fans finally saw a glimpse of what could happen, as quarterback Caleb Williams managed to put together a fairly decent stat line and seemed to connect with fellow top-10 pick Rome Odunze. But there is much more work to be done. If the Rams weren’t the walking wounded, Chicago would be the underdog instead of being the slight favorite. (Odunze was limited in practice this week but should play on Sunday.)

So what about the favorite Bears team for three weeks?

First, the good.

After two weeks of unimaginative play calling, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron finally adjusted his approach to fit the personnel on hand. In Week 3, the Bears dramatically increased their use of motion and play action, giving Williams more time to throw than he had all season. They also continued to reassign Gerald Everett’s routes to the much more dynamic Cole Kmet and also ramped up Odunze’s routes and targets. Both flourished with more attention.

Chicago has a great defense so will be within striking distance more often than not, and Williams’ playmaking ability should surface more regularly with schemes focused on their top pass-catchers.

The bad is obvious: they have no offensive line. Opposing pass rushers get free access to the backfield, and the lack of any semblance of a running attack doesn’t help. Williams looks like a rookie, but it’s hard to gain experience when he has to run for his life before class can start.

The Rams may come in as underdogs, but they have the better coaching staff and a much better quarterback right now. Matthew Stafford just pulled off a miracle win against the Niners, making high-pressure throw after high-pressure throw despite being behind his two leading receivers. And don’t forget, head coach Sean McVay was Waldron’s former mentor in LA.

That familiarity could be the advantage, as the Rams don’t have a particularly fearsome defense. If they can stay one step ahead of the Bears’ playcallers and force Chicago’s defense into overtime, Stafford has the experience to exploit any mistakes.

All odds from BetMGM. Looking for NFL tickets? Find them here.

The Pulse Newsletter

The Pulse Newsletter

Free, daily sports updates straight to your inbox.

Free, daily sports updates straight to your inbox.

To registerBuy the Pulse newsletter

Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears Odds

How to watch Rams vs. Bears can view

  • Location: Soldiers Field – Chicago
  • Time: 1:00 PM ET
  • TV: FOX
  • Streaming: Fubo (free trial)

Expert pick for Rams vs. Bears

Read more about NFL Week 4

Odds, expert picks for all 16 NFL Week 4 games: Five undefeated teams hit the road as rivalry heats up

Best Bets Week 4: Pick the Jets to stay hot and a pair of underdogs to win

What are the top 10 front offices in the NFL? Here’s how 40 executives and coaches voted

(Photo by Caleb Williams: Michael Hickey/Getty Images)