How will Bears fare against Rams' exceptional defense?
The Bears have played just two teams with defenses comparable to the Rams' exceptional group, and they've been outscored 74-23 in those games.
In Week 2, the Arizona Cardinals pounded the Bears 48-23, and the following week in Seattle the Bears were blanked 26-0 by the Seahawks.
Quarterback Jay Cutler missed the second half against the Cardinals after suffering a hamstring injury, which also kept him out vs. the Seahawks. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery missed all of both games.
Cutler is completely recovered. Jeffery, however, suffered his third practice injury of the year, when he "tweaked his groin" Wednesday, according to coach John Fox. Jeffery did not practice at all Thursday.
The Pro Bowl wide receiver missed all four preseason games after injuring his calf during a walk-through practice in training camp, and he injured his hamstring the week after the season opener and missed four more games.
Since he returned, in the Bears' previous three games, the 6-foot-3, 216-pound Jeffery has 28 catches for 414 yards and 2 touchdowns. When he's out, it robs the Bears of their best big-play weapon and best downfield threat. He already has 9 receptions of more than 20 yards in just four games.
"He just makes things easier," Cutler said. "Whenever you have (Jeffery in) one-on-ones, you know you have a guy that's going to win.
"That's kind of the world we've lived in the past three games. If we have one-on-one matchups, more than likely the ball's going to head his way."
The Bears are just 1-3 with Jeffery in the lineup and 2-2 without him. But that's more an indictment of the defense, which has allowed an average of 36.0 points in the losses when Jeffery played but just 18.5 points in the victories when he didn't play.
Not having Jeffery changes offensive coordinator Adam Gase's play-calling and makes it more challenging, but that's part of the deal.
"We just kind of shift some things around," Gase said, "put some guys in different spots. You adjust. That's what the NFL is. Nobody is going to feel sorry for you. So you figure out a way to move a few pieces around, try to figure out who's feeling it that day and find a way to get him the ball."
By now, the Bears should know the drill when it comes to operating without Jeffery.
"I think he'll be OK," Cutler said. "If he can't go, we've had life without him, and we'll figure it out with the guys we've got."
It won't be easy against a Rams defense that is in the top six in nine key categories, including points, total yards and passing yards allowed, plus sack percentage and third-down efficiency.
"They're probably one of the top two we've faced so far, if not the best one we've seen," Gase said. "Very tough front, linebackers are about as good as you can get, even with (Alec) Ogletree (on IR) missing time. "The secondary is very challenging. They match up very well with us. From the front to the back end, this'll probably be one of our toughest tests."
When left end Chris Long (knee) is healthy, all four of the Rams' defensive linemen, including Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers and Robert Quinn, are first-round picks, as is backup Nick Fairley.
Among the back seven, linebackers James Laurinaitis and Akeem Ayers and cornerback Janoris Jenkins are second-round picks, and safety Mark Barron was drafted seventh overall.
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