Only 1 more hour till MNF....
10-2 Chicago Bears At the 5-7 St. Louis Rams
First we talk about the Chicago Bears. Anyone remember the last time we played on Monday night? Rex Grossman had one of his worst games in his career. Although last week Chicago was the first team to CLinch a play off spot Rex Grossman had yet another POOR game. Completeling only 6 of 19 passes for a passer rating of 1.3
Grossman opened the season by throwing for 1,243 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in his first five games, and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month in September. Everything changed for Grossman on Oct. 16 in a Monday night game against Arizona. He threw four interceptions and lost two fumbles, and needed Chicago's defense and special teams to bail him out in a 24-23 victory -- snapping the Bears' four-game losing streak on Monday night.
Since that contest, Grossman has passed for 1,181 yards with eight TDs and 14 picks in seven games, and the Bears have the worst passing offense in the league over that span.
Chicago was led by its defense and special teams last season, and those units have again been helping the Bears win lately. Chicago managed 107 yards of total offense against the Vikings -- its fewest since gaining 104 in a 17-0 loss to San Francisco in 2000 -- and needed touchdowns off a punt return from Devin Hester and an interception return from Ricky Manning Jr. Hester tied an NFL record with his fourth touchdown return and the defense created five turnovers for the second straight game. Chicago leads the league with 39 takeaways -- 10 more than Baltimore -- after having 34 last season.
St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger threw a season-high three interceptions in the Rams' 30-20 home loss to Arizona last Sunday, and has been susceptible to turning the ball over lately. Bulger had 13 touchdowns and one interception in the first eight games of the season, but has three TDs and six interceptions in the last four contests. After the loss to the Cardinals, the normally soft-spoken Bulger called out some of his teammates for not caring as the Rams were penalized for a season-high 126 yards.
"I've made a hundred mistakes and I want to reiterate, I'm not perfect," Bulger said. "But I care, and there's definitely more than one person I think in this locker room that could not care less. "But they get their paycheck on Monday and it's OK." Today After being talked to by his couch, he said he stands by his statment.
St. Louis has won its last five Monday night games at the Edward Jones Dome, including a 21-16 win over Chicago on Nov. 18, 2002. The Rams have won their last four games against the Bears.
IF YOU LIKE THE BEARS KEEP THESE POINTS IN MIND
1. The Bears are No. 1 in the NFL in punt return average.
2. The Bears are undefeated in the NFC (8-0).
3. Chicago is the top team in the NFL in field goal percentage (21 of 22 from over 30 yards).
4. Chicago has 39 takeaways this season, tops in the league averaging three per game.
5. The Bears have the No. 2 defense in the NFL and No. 1 in average gain per pass.
6. Grossman has thrown more TD passes than any Bears QB in 11 years.
7. Chicago has allowed the fewest points per game with 12.5.
8. St. Louis is only averaging 16 points per game in its last five games.
9. The Rams are last in yards given up per play and the Bears are No. 1.
10. The Bears only give up 12.6 points per game on the road.
IF YOU LIKE THE RAMS KEEP THESE POINTS IN MIND
1. St. Louis has won its last five home games played on Monday night.
2. The Rams have won four straight games against the Bears.
3. Grossman has thrown 14 picks in the last seven games.
4. The Bears allowed 192 yards rushing last week against Minnesota.
5. In three of the last five games, the Bears defense has given up plus-150 yards rushing per game.
6. St. Louis has averaged 27 points per game in its last five games Monday Night Football.
MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN!!!
