There can be no doubt after the performance the Chicago Bears put on Sunday night. The Bears are an elite team capable of making plenty of noise in the playoffs. They beat the Rams 15-6.
The Rams went into Soldier Field with the best record in the NFL at 11-1 but the Bears’ defense put the clamps on the NFL’s second ranked offense. The Bears held the Rams to 214 total yards. That’s the lowest total the Rams have had since Sean McVay took over as their head coach.
The Bears held the NFL’s leading rusher Todd Gurley to a season low 28 yards on 11 carries. The Bears also sacked Jared Goff three times and they intercepted him four times. Roquan Smith, Prince Amukamara, Kyle Fuller and Eddie Jackson had the picks.
To top it off the Bears also record their first safety of the season when Eddie Goldman took Goff down in the endzone at the start of the second half.
The Bears’ defense was so good that the Bears were able to overcome a poor night by Mitch Trubisky. He was intercepted three times. Trubisky did throw on touchdown pass on a trick play in the third quarter. Defensive Tackle Akiem Hicks came in on a short yardage play at the two yard line. Hicks carried for a one yard touchdown last week against the Giants but this time he was a decoy. Trubisky faked a handoff to Hicks up the middle and then Trubisky threw a pass to tackle Bradley Sowell who had reported in as an eligible receiver for a two year touchdown.
The other bright spot on offense for the Bears was they got Jordan Howard going. He rushed for a season high 101 yards on 19 carries.
The Bears are now 9-4. They can earn a playoff birth next Sunday with a home win over the Packers or with a loss by the Washington Redskins.