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The Bears host the Chargers this week in an important game for both squads. The latest NFL odds list Chicago as a 3.5-point favorites and the total at 45 points.
After a 4-1 start, the Chargers have dropped four straight to fall out of the AFC West lead following a 24-17 home loss to Oakland last Thursday. San Diego enters this game 1-3 on the road this year, losing the last two by a combined nine points.
The Bolts rank fourth in the league in passing (289 ypg) and 18th in rushing (108 ypg). Philip Rivers has completed 61 of his passes for 2,743 yards and 13 TDs with 15 interceptions and 25 sacks.
Mike Tolbert has 37 catches for 327 yards and two TDs, while Vincent Jackson has 35 grabs for 635 yards and six TDs. Ryan Mathews has 543 yards and three TDs on 4.6 yards per carry, while Tolbert has 282 yards and four scores on 3.9 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Chargers rank seventh against the pass (203 ypg) and 24th against the run (128 ypg). The group has posted 18 sacks and forced 13 turnovers, with one converted into a touchdown (Donald Butler, fumble).
Butler leads the unit with 61 tackles, adding a sack, interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery, while Takeo Spikes has 59 stops with a sack. Antwan Barnes has six sacks, 20 tackles and two forced fumbles, while Eric Weddle has five picks and 53 tackles.
While the Chargers have dropped four straight, the Bears have won their last four games to pull into a tie for second in the NFC North. The most recent win was a 37-13 home victory over Detroit. The Bears are 4-1 at home this year, with the only loss to Green Bay and the four wins by an average of 19 points per game.
Chicago ranks 13th in the league in rushing offense (120 ypg) while listing 21st in passing (208 ypg). Matt Forte is the versatile leader of the offense, leading the team in both rushing yards (869 with three TDs on 5.2 ypc) and receiving yards (439 yards, TD). Jay Cutler completes 58 percent of his passes for 2,033 yards and 11 TDs with six INTs and 23 sacks.
The Bears’ defense ranks 13th against the run (107 ypg) but just 29th against the pass (270 ypg) while posting 18 sacks and forcing 20 turnovers—four of which were converted to TDs (D.J. Moore, Charles Tillman and Major Wright, interceptions; Brian Urlacher, fumble).
Lance Briggs leads the group with 69 tackles, adding an INT and a forced fumble; Urlacher has 61 stops with three picks and two fumble recoveries. Julius Peppers has six sacks, 22 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Moore has three picks and 37 tackles.
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