The Disappointment Bowl: Bears vs. Chargers

Four head-to-head matchups could go a long way in determining the outcome of a game between teams who expected to be in a lot better position at this point in the season.

The Bears are victims of heightened expectations.

The Los Angeles Chargers are simply victims.

The Bears have a key injury to Akiem Hicks to deal with for at least seven more weeks, but the Los Angeles Chargers have been losing close games and have been ravaged by injuries along their defensive front.

As a result, the Chargers might need to get into some sort of a shootout to win Sunday at Soldier Field in a rare noon kickoff.

Then again, if you're going to get into a shootout, there aren't many quarterbacks in the league better equipped to win one than the Chargers' Philip Rivers.

"Right when you think, the guy is phenomenal, obviously — Rivers is," Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said. "He manages the game as good as anybody in the league and he's done it for a long time.

"So we are going to have our hands full that way. But he's a top competitor, he's very, very crafty."

Eyes on James Daniels ....More of this young buck pic.twitter.com/nDcF97LBne

— Olin kreutz (@olin_kreutz) October 24, 2019

When the NFL schedule came out, this game figured as a premiere inter-conference battle because it pitted two of last year's playoff teams, both with 12-4 records.

Instead, the Bears have disappointed at 3-3 and the Los Angeles Chargers have disappointed even more at 2-5.

Now it shakes out as a critical game for both teams if they're to maintain hopes of any type of playoff run, especially for the Chargers.

Coach Matt Nagy and the Bears point out they're exactly where they were last year at 3-3, but the mood is much different.

When the Packers are surging ahead in the NFC North and Minnesota is going after them, the Bears are naturally feeling heat.

"So now the second you go 3-3 and now there's that, 'oh, no, it isn't happening,' that in my opinion is where you feel the difference because of those expectations that are out there," Nagy said. "I just don't want that to take over what's real.

"What's real is we're 3-3 and we can focus on winning this next game versus the Chargers."

What's also real is the importance of four matchups the Bears can't afford to lose Sunday:

Bears RG Rashaad Coward vs. Chargers DT Jerry Tillery

It could also be Coward against starter Justin Jones, but the Chargers' interior defensive line has been badyly beaten up. Jones has a shoulder injury, missed the last game and hasn't practiced this week. His backup is Notre Dame rookie Tillery, a player who is lanky and almost better suited to be a defensive end in a 4-3. He has long arms and an ability to knock down or tip passes, but Coward is a tackle by trade who is better off mauling in the running game. The Chargers are generally undersized up front on defense. Undersized and beaten up is no way to stop the run. With the Bears trying to get the run established, this is a chance for Coward to dig in and root out a taller, lighter player. The Chargers' nose tackle is aging veteran Brandon Mebane, who does have decent size but has a knee injury and didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday. With the Chargers lacking a well-established linebacker corps, this is an opportunity for the Bears to get the running game going and Coward can be a key to blocking it.

Bears LT Charles Leno vs. Chargers DE Joey Bosa

Bosa leads the Chargers with five sacks and is a persistent rusher more than a bull rusher or speed rusher, although he can do both. His ability to keep coming with a variety of moves makes it difficult for a tackle to stay with him long. Bosa moves from either the left side or right side, and most likely would be matched up against Leno most of the time because he's suffered through an inconsistent, penalty-plagued season. Massie has been much more effective. Bosa is also adept at coming off the back side to stop a running play, so both tackles and tight ends have to stay with their blocks on him in the running game.

Bears CB Prince Amukamara vs. Chargers WR Keenan Allen

A second-half deep ball Amukamara allowed last week for 45 yards got the Saints rolling in a 12-10 game. It seemed almost a matter of communication with safeties on the play, though, rather than being beaten. Amukamara has said the communication in the secondary has to improve. Allen is the main target for Rivers, an adept route runner with excellent hands and above-average speed, he has been targeted 26 times more (70) than any other Chargers wide receiver. Rivers looks to him the way Mitchell Trubisky looks for Allen Robinson. As a wise veteran, Rivers is going to look for his secondary receivers but the Bears pass rush can erase that threat.

Bears OLB Khalil Mack vs. Chargers T Russell Okung

Facing Mack is no way to return from an embolism. Trent Scott and Okung may alternate in this as Okung is brought back to football slowly, but going against Mack after he's been held without a sack for two weeks and the Bears' defense has been struggling for two weeks is not the ideal setting for dipping your toe into the water. Mack and the Chargers are well acquainted and they will no doubt try to double-team or chip him but the pass blocking from their backs would keep them from using a major receiving weapon in their offense. 

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