Chicago’s explosive passing attack can expose this L.A. secondary, that’s struggled in the home stretch and just made Bryce Young look like Steve Young in the Wild Card Round (for the second time this season).
And there’s the matter of the Rams traveling for a second straight week and coming into a cold climate, with extended forecasts calling for bitter temperatures (feels like -7) and potential 20-plus mph winds at Soldier Field.
The Bears are 6-3 SU and 7-1-1 ATS in their last nine games. Their offense has been churning out yards on the ground while their defense does a great job forcing turnovers. They'll have a significant home-field advantage in this game with Soldier Field rocking on a freezing and windy night, and the Rams making two cross-country flights over the week. Rams superstar QB Matthew Stafford has struggled in cold-weather games, and eight of his nine picks this year (reg season and playoffs) have come on the road. He's also banged up and will be playing with a sprained index finger on his throwing hand.
I could see this total coming back down later in the week if Stafford is limited in practice and the weather turns worse in Chicago.