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The disappointing Chicago Bears (2-5) travel to the former Hollywood Park to meet the equally-disappointing Los Angeles Chargers (2-4) Sunday evening. Both teams need to figure things out fast or begin looking ahead to the next draft.
Chicago, to be fair, has two wins in its last three, including a 30-12 home blowout of the Las Vegas Raiders this past Sunday.
Meanwhile, underachieving Los Angeles has a resume of two losses, two wins and two losses thus far this season, the latest a 31-17 defeat at the Kansas City Chiefs.
It’s the Chargers as nine-point favorites (total at 46½), according to NFL odds.
Chicago is leading the all-time series (dating to the AFL-NFL merger), 7-6.
Moneyline is Bolts -450, Bears at +340.
It’s Bagent’s Bears
Unless something happens to expedite the healing of quarterback Justin Fields’ injured thumb, expect Tyson Bagent to start once again.
Bagent, the (undrafted) record-setting quarterback out of Division II Shepherd (West Virginia), went 21-of-29 (162 yards, one touchdown) in the 30-12 win over the visiting Las Vegas Raiders this past Sunday.
Fields, Bagent or whomever, Chicago is 27th in passing yards (183) per game) this season, though with a functioning (141.3 yards/game) ground resume. Leading rusher Khalil Herbert (272 yards) is on injured (right ankle) reserve, however.
Wideout D.J. Moore (40 receptions, 636 yards, five touchdowns) is one of the better targets in the league. A godawful opposing secondary (see below) should make Moore quite happy.
Chicago has been very stingy with its run defense (82.3 yards/game, fifth in NFL). though this opponent would rather move the ball through the air.
Lightning Isn’t Striking
Only the Denver Broncos have allowed more yards per game than the 406.8 of the Los Angeles Chargers, and no team is worse at defending the pass (310 yards/game) than the Los Angeles Chargers.
Get the picture?
What’s worse with the Bolts is quarterback Justin Herbert (1,592 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, four interceptions) is playing through a (non-throwing hand) fractured finger).
Wide receiver Keenan Allen (46 receptions, 574 yards, four touchdowns), though with 32 catches in first three games, just 14 in last three.
Bears Lose, Closely
Board has the Chargers at 9-5 (+180) to make the playoffs, while the Bears are priced at 14-1 (+1400), as per NFL playoff odds.
Quarterback Tyson Bagent provided some Chicago Bears’ energy. Perhaps that continues.
However, the Los Angeles Chargers are the better (albeit flawed) team, and are expected to win this game, though nine points is a bit much.
Take the underdog Bears to at least cover. Go over, too.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
