The Chicago Bears 2021 schedule isn’t set to be released for another 24 hours, but it seems information has already begun to filter out regarding who their opponents will be. Now we may know who they’re going to open up the season against. According to Danny Parkins of 670 The Score, the Bears will have their rematch in Los Angeles against the Rams on Sunday Night Football.
This is an interesting choice. Everybody no doubt recalls the ugly results the last time Chicago visited that stadium last year. The Bears’ offense was held in check all game, resulting in a 24-10 loss where the Rams’ #1 defense absolutely drubbed their offensive line. It was a humiliating experience. Not only that but Chicago will be staring at a familiar face in former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Week 1 Bears open in LA on Sunday Night Football against the Rams.
— Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) May 11, 2021
This is going to be an immediate test for the Bears.
Plenty of people around the league aren’t buying that they’re any kind of threat in the NFC. Especially with Andy Dalton at quarterback. In fact, the last time he ran into that Rams defense in 2019 he managed just 10 points and was sacked five times. Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd had a field day with the Bears front last year. So there will be a ton of pressure on them to perform.
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As for the defense? Stafford hung 34 points on them in their final meeting last year. He has plenty to work with out in L.A. with Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. Not to mention Sean McVay’s well-established rushing offense. Kyle Fuller isn’t there anymore. Nor is Bustker Skrine. The Bears only sacked Jared Goff once. That can’t happen again if they have any hope of keeping this game close.
Chicago Bears will have little margin for error this year
Their schedule won’t get any easier after the Rams game. They’re slated to play the rest of the AFC West division as well. None of the other three teams are considered pushovers. They’ll also have a rematch with the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then a slate against the always challenging AFC North. Never mind the six-game trudge against the NFC North as well. A strong start to the season could be pivotal to its outcome.
The Chicago Bears did manage to beat Matthew Stafford on opening day last year in Detroit. Can they do it again? Anything is possible. There are some new variables involved. Brandon Staley, the architect of that #1 Rams defense last year, departed for the Chargers as their new head coach. Raheem Morris has taken his place. While widely respected, the man has never had a lot of standout success as a defensive coordinator. It will be interesting to see if he can keep that unit playing at a high level.
One thing is for sure. The Bears will be motivated for this game.
They haven’t forgotten the humbling experience from last year just like the fans. The offensive line will be healthy again and reinforced with some extra nasty courtesy of rookie left tackle Teven Jenkins. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they look to set the tone early with the ground game led by their backfield trio of David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen, and Damien Williams. A win here would certainly qualify as a statement.