Bears-Rams Preview

Here's my preview of tonight's Bears-Rams Monday Night Football matchup:

For the record, I think that Rex Grossman should start tonight's game, but if he looks like he did last week against Minnesota, he should be pulled at halftime or possibly sooner. The hope is that Grossman can get out of his slump and play well for the rest of the season, but even I realize that at some point winning becomes more important than developing a young QB. However, if you're a Bears fan, you should be rooting for Grossman to succeed. After years and years of mediocre backup-type QBs, don't you want a franchise QB? There are a lot of knee-jerk fans in this city who want results now and don't want to look at the big picture. Between the fans and the media, it has become a witch-hunt of sorts to bench Grossman, who is getting the full Cade McNown treatment now after being treated like the best Bears QB since Sid Luckman early in the season. This is not helping him.

Who Has the Edge?

Offense
Tonight, the Bears need to do some of the things that they should've done last week, namely get the intermediate routes back in the offense. Get TE Desmond Clark off the side of the milk carton and throw to him. Do the same thing with Muhsin Muhammad. The Rams are also among the worst in the NFL against the run, so the Bears need to pound the ball with Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. They should combine for around 150 yards rushing tonight. Grossman needs to have better ball placement, better decision making, and better footwork, but above all else, he just needs to read and react and not think too much. Just do it. The Rams will likely try to pound the ball with RB Steven Jackson, especially with Bears star DT Tommie Harris out for this game and possibly the season. Jackson is also a very good pass catcher out of the backfield, with 72 catches going into tonight's game. If they have success running the ball, then they'll try to go deep via play action to Torry Holt. Holt on Charles Tillman is not a good matchup for Tillman, who lacks top-end speed. Another interesting matchup could come when the Bears go to their nickel package. Rookie Devin Hester could move to the #2 CB spot with Ricky Manning Jr. moving to his usual nickel CB position, putting Hester on wily veteran Issac Bruce. If Hester plays the nickel CB position, he'd be facing quick slot WR Kevin Curtis. The Rams may very well try to take advantage of these matchups. Edge: Even

Defense
The Bears defense continues to get more depleted by the week. Star DT Harris is out for the season with a severe hamstring injury, and CB Nathan Vasher and S Todd Johnson won't start tonight. Harris drew double-teams on a very high percentage of plays, so the other D-linemen will have to step up big-time. Ian Scott and Alfonso Boone will platoon at DT in Harris' place. The main goal will be to stop Steven Jackson and limit big plays in the passing game. The Rams defense will try to do the same thing every team tries to do against the Bears: send everything and the kitchen sink at Grossman and hope that he cracks. If their defense has success stopping the Bears' running game, it could be a long night for the road team. Edge: Bears

Special Teams
With Devin Hester, Robbie Gould, and Brad Maynard (along with special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo and Co.), the Bears have the edge on just about every team in this category. The Rams' return game is average, and Jeff Wilkins is a solid veteran whose only trouble this season has been between 40-49 yards, where he has three misses this season. Edge: Bears

Coaching
Lovie Smith faces potentially the toughest choice of his Bears career tonight: whether or not to pull Grossman. The decision he makes could drastically alter the course of this season, a season expected to end in a Super Bowl run. Rams coach Scott Linehan needs to get his team going again, especially after QB Marc Bulger called out his teammates after last week's loss. Edge: Bears

Intangibles
Rex Grossman's season - and career - hang in the balance tonight. How he responds will likely determine whether the Bears will go to Miami in February for the Super Bowl. How will Bulger's comments affect the Rams? Will they come together or come apart at the seams? Edge: Even

Prediction
Grossman is efficient, if not great, and the Bears' defense steps up without three of their starters. Hester may even take an interception back for a TD. Bears 23, Rams 13