The NFL season is an evolving state of affairs with each team aspiring to hoist the Lombardi Trophy come February, but only 8 teams remain on their quest to do so.
After a monumental win against their longtime
rivals, the Chicago Bears host the NFL’s most potent offense in the Los Angeles Rams, who also boast a top pass-rushing tandem across the league.
In this weekly series, I’ve been featuring one player from each team on each side of the ball who I believe to be integral to their respective team’s success. It’s not always about the quarterback or superstar defensive players like Myles Garrett or Micah Parsons. Heck, even Jared Verse and Byron Young this week would be low hanging fruit. While the “star” players are obviously important each week, this series will also highlight some of the other guys.
Because let’s face it, often, the unsung players are just as critical to the team’s success.
Here are the players that I will be keyed in on in this one.
Let’s get started with the Chicago Bears!
Offense: D’Andre Swift, RB
Lost in the midst of this magical season for Chicago has been the play of running back D’Andre Swift. Swift has been integral to the Bears success on offense and will need to have himself another big game this week to keep the Rams defense honest and off-set the pass rush. Last season against the Rams, which happened to be Caleb Williams’ 4th start ever as a pro, Swift accounted for 93 rushing yards on 16 carries (5.8 yard average) and a score with an additional 72 yards on 7 catches and another score. For those non-math heads at home, like myself, that is 165 yards and 2 TDs against this opponent just a year ago with mostly the same roster.
While I expect Caleb and the passing game to have a much better performance this go around, Swift (and Monangai, for that matter) need to step up this week. If they can control the clock and churn out first downs against the Rams like Head Coach Ben Johnson emphasized this week, then the Bears win.
Defense: Austin Booker, DE
In just 14 snaps a year ago against the Rams, Austin Booker recorded 2 tackles and 1 QBH. Like Caleb Williams, this was only Booker’s 4th game as a pro. Fast forward a year and Booker is now starting at DE ever since recovering from his injury to begin his sophomore campaign and has been getting better each week.
Make no mistake about it: Montez Sweat needs to play like a premier pass rusher in this one. But Booker’s play against an immobile Matthew Stafford will be something to keep an eye on this week. Additionally, the Rams deploy the most 13 personnel packages (three TEs) in the entire league, so Booker (and Sweat) will have to be strong setting the edge in addition to applying pressure on Stafford without needing to blitz. If Booker can add to his 3.5 sacks in the last 4 games, Stafford and the Rams will be in trouble.
Los Angeles Rams
Offense: Coleman Shelton, C
After beginning his career in LA, Coleman Shelton had a brief stint in Chicago last season, where he started every game for the Bears at Center. A pleasant surprise for Bears fans, Shelton provided some decent stability at the pivot after years of poor play. He returned to LA this season and once again started every game for his team. Availability, they say, is your best ability. So Shelton is doing something right and deserves his recognition. However, his one weakness was always his ability to hold the point of attack in the pass game and move bigger-bodied DL in the run game.
How Shelton can fare against a resurgent Grady Jarrett, younger and more agile Gervon Dexter Sr. and behemoth Andrew Billings will be key this week and one I will be watching. If Shelton can make Bears fans question if letting him walk for the more expensive Drew Dalman was the right move, then the Rams likely protect Matt Stafford and put up enough points to win the game. If Stafford experienced pressure up the middle, not only do I expect to see a lot of #65 in some glorious Bears highlights, but I also expect a Bears W.
Defense: Poona Ford, DT
A common theme of this thread is players who either played well last time these two teams played or didn’t play much, if at all. Poona, another behemoth in his own right at 5’11”, 310lbs, is one of the latter as he played for the Chargers last season. Last week in the divisional round against the run-first Carolina Panthers, Ford notched 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL and 1 QBH on just 55% of the defensive snaps.
Considering that I expect Chicago to lean on the run game, I will be watching to see just how effective the former Texas Longhorn is when he is in the game. If he can stymie Drew Dalman and those new OL in Chicago, especially in the run game, the Bears will have a hard time winning this one. The Bears ran for their fewest and 4th fewest yards in each of the last two games. If they can control Poona Ford, they should be able to break that streak and get back on the right track in a W.
Who will you be focused on in the below freezing temps this week as the Bears host the Rams in the NFC Divisional round?!
Recap from Wild Card round:
Bears O – Luther Burden III, WR: 3 catches for 42yards and 1 carry for -4 yards.
Bears D – Kyler Gordon, DB: 3 tackles, all solo with 2 passes defensed.
Cheese O – Christian Watson, WR: 3 catches for 36 yards and a TD.
Cheese D – Rashan Gary, DE: 1 solo tackle with 1 pass deflection and 1 QBH
Remember, there’s a near-zero chance of a Bears win when all four players perform in a way that favors the opponent. Here, we keep track of weeks past to see how things unfolded:
Week 1: Loveland, Jarrett, Mason, Metellus – Vikes owned 75% this week. Perhaps 100%. L
Week 2: Jackson, Edmunds, Gibbs, Branch – Again, we were owned in 75% this week, maybe 100%. L
Week 3: Moore, Dexter Sr., Pickens, Sanborn – Finally, we dominated in all phases. At least 75% in our favor. W
Week 4: Swift, Brisker, Jeanty, Chinn – I’d say we went 2-2 here and barely squeaked away with the win. W
Week 6: Benedet, Spidey, Deebo, Payne – Split at a minimum, but I say 75% in our favor. W
Week 7: Burden, Byard, Shaheed, Werner – Easily secured 3/4 of these for the win that was not as close as the score would indicate. W
Week 8: Loveland, Billings, Henry, Roquan – 0/4 – L
Week 9: Monangai, Booker, Chase, Knight – 3/4 , arguably all 4 if you consider Chase’s numbers. – W
Week 10: Benedet, Edmunds, Tracy Jr., Lawrence – 3/4 , arguably all 4 if you consider 0 sacks allowed. – W
Week 11: Loveland, Sweat, Jones, Turner – 2/4 maybe. Went down to the wire. – W
Week 12: DJ, Brisk, Gainwell, Ramsey – 2/4, maybe 3/4 if you count Brisker’s game winning pass deflection. – W
Week 13: Dalman, Gervon, Saquon, Phillips – 3/4 though Phillips was close to doing more damage. – W
Week 14: Swift, Jaylon, Tom, Quay – 2/4 if not 1/4. Swift should have been featured more. – L
Week 15: Trapilo, Jarrett, Fannin Jr., Schwesinger – 3/4, nearly 4/4 as neither Brown made a big play.
Week 16: Monangai, TJ, Reed, Cooper – 3/4 if not 4/4. W
Week 17: DJ, Maine, Jauan, Bethune – 0/4. L
Week 18: Burden, CJ, Gibbs, Jack – 0/4. L
Wild Card: Burden, Spidey, Watson, Gary – 2/4. W
