Bears vs. Rams: 3 crucial matchups to watch for Chicago

No. 3: Bears Rushing Attack vs. Rams Run Defense

In my opinion, the most crucial aspect of them all is going to be the Bears ability or inability to run the football on the Rams. At the moment, Los Angeles is tied for the no. 5 overall run defense in football. They’re giving up just 90.8 yards per game on the ground.

The Bears’ run defense isn’t far behind at 94.0 per game.

If Matt Nagy has learned anything this year, it’s that he cannot go away from the run game. There is only one scenario which should lead Nagy away from running the football, and that’s if the Bears are down by more than 14 points. If not, then pound the rock.

Rookie David Montgomery has been strong when given several carries. He’s one of those guys who gets better as he continues to touch the ball. His physical style allows him to wear down an opposing defense, which is exactly why Nagy needs to force feed Montgomery the ball early.

Part of the reason Montgomery is seen to be less than stellar is due to the play up front. If the Bears’ line can open a few holes, Montgomery has proven he can take advantage. Not only will Daniels have his hands full with Donald, but the entire line will need to ensure they give Montgomery room to run.

Let’s also not forget Tarik Cohen, who has had a quieter season in 2019. But, he’s still phenomenal in space. Nagy has to do his best to get Cohen the ball in creative ways while also pounding it with Montgomery.

The last thing the Bears want in this game is to fall behind and have to depend on Trubisky to win it. If they can slow the pace and commit to the run, that scenario becomes less likely. It’s all on the offensive line in this one.