The addition of Matthew Stafford has the Los Angeles Rams thinking Super Bowl this season. Stafford is expected to upgrade an offense that regressed the last few years under Jared Goff and the team jettisoned the former No. 1 overall pick for another No. 1 overall pick. He wasn’t drafted first overall but the Chicago Bears used a high pick to nab Justin Fields, who could be the franchise quarterback the team has longed for. But the Bears aren’t ready to throw their rookie to the wolves, instead naming veteran Andy Dalton their starter. Whoever lines up behind center will have to deal with a menacing LA defense led by three-time DPOY Aaron Donald.
This matchup in Week 1 of the regular season will take place on Sunday, September 12, 2021, at 8:20 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium and will be televised on NBC.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chicago Bears +7.5
Los Angeles Rams -7.5
Over/Under 47
Odds Analysis
The Rams opened as a 7-point favorite with the number wagered a half point to LA -7.5. Unless something drastic happens we’re unlikely to see movement off a key number. We could, however, see a change in the total, which has already bounced around. The number hit the board at 45 and was wagered up a full two points to where it stands now. That seems a bit surprising with two strong defenses and the fact that the UNDER was 8-0 in LA home games last season. I can feel a drop coming so bet the UNDER high.
Matchup to Watch
In game geared more and more for offense, what the Rams did last season was impressive. They allowed fewer than 300 yards per game and yielded an average of just over 190 yards through the air. Part of the reason was their destructive pass rush. The Rams led the NFC and posted the second-most sacks in the entire league with 53. Having Donald on the line certainly helps. He registered 13.5 sacks last season while constantly drawing a pair of blockers.
The Rams were able to apply pressure with their front four allowing linebackers to drop in coverage. They blitzed about 25 percent of the time. The pressure is on Chicago’s offensive line to protect their QB and take LA out of its comfort zone. When the teams met last year the Rams had their way with four sacks and two picks of Nick Foles. They held the Bears to 279 yards and 4 of 14 on third down. The Bears could have as many as three new starters on the line this game with Jason Peters anchoring the left tackle spot.
Player to Watch
Stafford and the Rams appear to be a good fit. Spending his entire career in Detroit on some crappy teams, Stafford was still able to put up some impressive numbers. And for the first time since entering the NFL he’s part of a team with serious Super Bowl aspirations. He has a strong line in front of him and the passing game should click with Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. He also has DeSean Jackson to stretch the field and underrated tight end Tyler Higbee. The drawback to a shortened preseason is that Stafford has yet to take a snap for his new team in a real game setting, but that shouldn’t affect the veteran who is quite familiar with the Bears from his time in the NFC North. Stafford is a good pick to go OVER any passing props that hit the board.
Free ATS Pick
I’m not convinced Dalton is the guy to lead the Bears and I expect to see Fields starting sooner rather than later. Heck, we might even see a lot of him in this game since he gives the team another dimension with his ability to run the football. And with the Rams chasing down the QB he’ll have to scamper. Stafford has a lot of weapons and while it may take a few series to get in a groove he’ll find his happy place and the Rams will score more than enough to cover the spread. They won’t need a lot with their defense wreaking havoc so I’m backing the UNDER as well.
NFL Pick: Rams 24, Bears 13
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
