One of the things that is heard this time of the year are people dissing a team with a good record with criticism based on the quality of competition they have beaten. First of all, one of the reasons a team with a good record has played teams with losing ones, is because they beat them. Second, teams play who is on their schedule.
Winning records are winning records, and the teams that achieve them are most likely the better teams, no matter who they played when they got their victories. Now, that is not to say a team that has played anybody from the NFC East is not going to have a better chance of a winning mark than those that have had to play teams out of the NFC West. For the record, the NFC East just set a record by having no team in their division with at least three wins seven weeks into a season, and the NFC West, well everyone has a winning record and all of them have four or more wins.
This year, teams out of the NFC West, where the Rams call home, have on their schedule games against the NFC East. That is one of the reasons all the teams in the NFC West have won at least four games this year, and, by the way, all four of the Rams victories this year have come against NFC East teams. They have already completed their schedule against that division and racked up wins over the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.
The Rams only two games played against other than NFC East teams have resulted in losses. Los Angeles was downed in road encounters against the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers.
The Bears have been a bit more impressive in where they have collected their five wins in six starts, including a victory a couple weeks ago in a primetime matchup against Tom Brady and his streaking Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
So, maybe that is why a lot of people are taking the Bears tonight with what appears a generous point spread of six points.
Not me.
The Bears beat the Buccaneers two weeks ago in a perfect motivational spot and as a bet-against home team underdog. Tonight, they are a bet-on road underdog.
Wins are consistently chalked up based on the specific situations in play for a particular game.
I note that in the 49ers win over the Rams last week that Los Angeles defensive standout Aaron Donald was completely neutralized by the 49ers game plan. That was good for the 49ers, but will not work in the Bears favor tonight.
Something about not tugging on Superman’s cape.
Tonight, the Bears come in with a solid defense, the better record, and hopes for a sixth win in seven decisions.
They are going to leave with hope that next week produces a better result.
Qoxhi Picks: Los Angeles Rams (-6) over Chicago Bears