Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears: Stock up, stock down

The Los Angeles Rams entered this game ravaged by injury, but still managed to get the job done as they beat the Chicago Bears by a score of 17-7. The Rams ultimately kept their playoff hopes alive as they improved to 6-4, and the Bears’ season is basically over as they drop to 4-6. The Rams will now prepare for a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens and QB Lamar Jackson.

Let’s get into the stock report:

Stock Down

Discipline

There were simply too many mistakes by the Rams on the night. WR Cooper Kupp fumbled twice — one of which could’ve ended in a touchdown, QB Jared Goff threw a terrible interception and nearly threw two more — one of which was a potential pick-six, and the Rams lost multiple big plays due to penalties. None were bigger than an illegal formation call that removed a 50-yard touchdown from WR Josh Reynolds on a deep post.

WR Mike Thomas

Thomas wasn’t terrible, but he offers absolutely nothing to the team, especially on offense. Thomas caught one single pass on offense for nine yards, but it was a simple screen pass. Thomas had a key drop on a dime from Goff and was also blown up on a screen, but he saved the blunder as he had a major heads up play by jumping on a Kupp fumble deep inside the Rams’ territory.

QB Jared Goff

Goff wasn’t terrible, but he needs to clean his play up by removing the turnover-worthy throws. Goff’s interception was a terrible decision and even worse execution. The one mistake that nearly killed the Rams was the would-be pick-six he nearly threw to CB Kyle Fuller along the right sideline. Goff did have an absolute dime to Reynolds that resulted in a 50-yard touchdown that was called back due to a penalty. The final scoring drive also included two or three awesome passes to Reynolds and TE Gerald Everett.

Stock Up

Head Coach Sean McVay

McVay was masterful today. Some may not realize why, but he did everything he needed to do in terms of adjustments and simplifying the gameplan to allow his talented players to get the job done. The Rams are a zone-blocking based running team that stems everything from their ability to run outside zone, yet McVay completely scrapped his principles and implemented purely a man-blocking offensive line tonight by running duo/combos, power, counters, and pin-and-pulls. Not only that, but McVay routinely moved the pocket and changed Goff’s release points. Lastly, he allowed the two tight ends in 12 personnel to chip and help his tackles. Brilliant and masterful gameplan by the head man.

Rookie Offensive Lineman

The entire offensive line deserves some love, but it’s the rookies in particular that played shockingly well. RG David Edwards and RT Bobby Evans opened up gaping holes for the running game and did enough along the right side in pass pro to keep Goff clean. Goff wasn’t sacked once in the entire game and the Rams crossed 100 yards on the ground. The only knock on the offensive line was a holding call on LT Andrew Whitworth.

WR Josh Reynolds

Reynolds continues to step up in the absence of WR Brandin Cooks (and now WR Robert Woods). Reynolds led the team with three receptions for 55 yards, but he also had a 50-yard touchdown called back. The man can be counted on to make plays, and he’s more than proven that.

Defense

The Bears simply couldn’t do anything offensively due to the suffocating performance from the defense as a whole. QB Mitchell Trubisky didn’t crack 200 yards passing and threw an interception to CB Troy Hill. The Bears’ running game was non-existent, but based off pure volume they were able to total over 70 yards on the ground. Still, the Rams’ defense chipped in another three sacks (a fourth that was called back) and didn’t allow any big plays outside of a touchdown to RB Tarik Cohen as ILB Cory Littleton couldn’t play the ball in time. CB Jalen Ramsey was marvelous in the contest.

RB Todd Gurley

McVay finally fed Gurley a steady dose, and it paid off in dividends. Gurley amassed 25 carries for 97 yards and one touchdown and chipped in another three receptions for 36 yards as a receiver. #30 ran it hard all night, and outside of the early-game fumble, he was awesome in this contest.