NFL Game Picks Week 9: Chicago Bears at San Diego Chargers
By Erik Lambert
Nov 9, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; General view of the helmets of the Chicago Bears (left) and San Diego Chargers on the ESPN Monday Night Football Countdown set at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
It may not be a battle of undefeateds but it’s still Monday Night Football between two determined teams. That usually makes for some exciting football. Throw in a sprinkle of rivalry and hot quarterback play and fans would be smart not to ignore this game. So what do the NFL game picks have to say?
Backdrop:
For a time it looked like Jay Cutler and Philip Rivers would forge the next great quarterback rivalry. Sadly fans were robbed of that when Cutler was traded to Chicago. Still, they have a history of dislike mixed with being two of the better quarterbacks in the league. That alone should provide enough intrigue to this game by itself.
Throw in two teams desperate for a second half run to save their playoff hopes and the fact it’s master vs. student with John Fox and his former understudy Mike McCoy and one might be surprised to find how interesting this primetime matchup is between 2-5 and 2-6 teams.
Matchup To Watch:
Jeremy Langford vs. Donald Butler and Manti Te’o
With Matt Forte out, the Bears have turned the reins of their running game over to rookie Jeremy Langford. The coaching staff believes strongly in the 4th round pick and that he can carry the load. So far in spot duty this season he has averaged just 3.0 yards per carry, but has been a threat as a receiver, catching two passes for 31 yards.
Chargers inside linebackers Donald Butler and Manti Te’o will be charged with stopping him. That’s something they’ve struggled to do all season. According to Pro Football Focus, they hold a -18.3 rating against the run with 14 missed tackles. As a team, San Diego is allowing 124 yards per game on the ground (26th in NFL). Either they or Langford will have a big night.
Key Stat:
Philip Rivers is on pace to set the single-season NFL record for passing yards. He’s averaging a gaudy 336 per game. He goes against a Bears defense that hasn’t allowed much through the air (214 yards per game), this despite constant accusations of having no talent either in their pass rush or their secondary. So Rivers would figure to be their biggest test of the season. Are they better than many realize, or have they just had the good fortune of not playing many dynamic passing attacks?
Prediction: Bears win 30-27
Already the media has begun to point out how Bears fans are at Qualcomm Stadium in strength. So home field advantage isn’t exactly on the side of the Chargers. Couple that with the loss of key receiver Keenan Allen and the fact that John Fox knows them so well from his days in Denver and it’s a good recipe for the Bears to get their second road win against an AFC West team this season.