The Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams have a long history of grudge matches. And by long, I mean “no really, you have no idea” long. Today’s 1pm EST / 10am PST game on FOX is the 89th time these two teams have met. And while the Bears vs Rams have had some great games in the past, today’s showdown is a tad more important than most games they’ve played. The 6-4 Bears are smack dab in the middle of the hunt for the NFC North, while the 4-6 Rams are clinging to their playoff lives and probably need to win out to even sniff the playoffs. Naturally that winning out starts today at home, so you can count on the St. Louis Rams playing with a little extra oomph today. If you can’t catch the HDTV broadcast on FOX, you can watch Bears vs Rams online free using one of several different methods.
The Bears would seem to have the advantage today, both as the only of the two teams with a winning record and being ahead of the Rams in just about every major statistical category. Through 11 weeks the Bears are ranked 10th in the NFL in passing (the Rams are 21st), 18th in rushing (St. Louis is 22nd), ninth in overall offense (vs. 27th for the Rams) and 24th in defense (compared to the Rams’ 19th-rated defense). But facing a formidable Rams front seven, Bears quarterback Josh McCown, who’s still filling-in for an injured Jay Cutler, will need to get off to a better start than he did last week. McCown had serious issues in the first half last week against the Baltimore Ravens, throwing 20 passes that netted just 84 yards. On the road this week, and in a competitor’s dome that’s known to get loud, McCown can’t afford to stumble out of the gate.
St. Louis has its own substitute QB, though, with Kellen Clemens starting to settle into his role as the replacement for Sam Bradford, who’d be having a decent year prior to his injury. Clemens’ numbers are about what you’d expect from a backup, and the former Oregon Ducks QB is unafraid to step up in the pocket and take a hit or pull it in and make it happen on the ground. Clemens isn’t likely to have the same long-term results as Bradford, but he’s given the Rams what the need at this time: a sign of hope.
But the Bears have one thing the Rams don’t: an effective, albeit less-than-perfect, running back. Bears running back Matt Forte is a threat both on the ground and through the air, as shown last week against Baltimore. Forte ran for 83 yards on 18 carries and caught five passes for 42 additional yards, 14 of which came on a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Rams, meanwhile, are a long way from their previous RB highs with the likes of Stephen Jackson. Zac Stacy may be the man with the long-term plan for St. Louis, but so far this season he’s mustered 537 yards and three touchdowns on 129 carries. By comparison, the Bears’ Forte has 240 more yards and four more TDs.
As you watch Bears vs Rams online free, keep your eyes peeled on both the Bears’ and Rams’ special teams, as well. It’s not often that NFL fans get to watch for much more than an occasional 15-yard return, but today’s matchup between the Bears and Rams could very well hold some fireworks. For instance, what magic return-rabbit can Tavon Austin pull out of his hat today, especially after he gained 314 yards on eight touches in Indianapolis? One of those touches was an incredible 98-yard punt return. Could he possibly go for a 99-yard return today? But he’s not the only special teams member poised to entice those who watch today’s game between the Bears and Rams. Remember that Monday Night performance in St. Louis where Devin Hester took two kickoffs back for touchdowns? Yeah, we thought so. Whichever returner goes crazy Sunday could seal the deal for his team.
You can watch Bears vs Rams online free on DirecTV’s website if you have the NFL Sunday Ticket with MAX Package. The package requires a subscription, but anyone who has one can watch the live streaming version free of any game, including today’s 1pm EST / 10am PST NFL game on FOX between the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams.
