Chicago Bears (2-5) at San Diego Chargers (2-6)
Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego – TV: ESPN
*TV announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
*Keys to the game: His offensive line dogged by injuries and no running game to write home about has put the weight of every game – and possession – on the right arm of QB Philip Rivers. The result is a video-game stat line, two wins and a minus-6 turnover ratio. While he’s proven successful in a ball-control passing game that protects his sometimes-salvageable defense, Rivers lost his top receiver – Keenan Allen was placed on IR this week – and TE Antonio Gates hasn’t looked himself since early October due to a sore knee.
The Bears are not strong up the gut, where Adrian Peterson gouged them repeatedly last week, and the Chargers are determined to keep pounding the ball until the ground game clicks. The Bears aren’t blessed with depth or star talent at cornerback and Rivers won’t have to roll far through his progressions to find a matchup he likes. If he avoids turnovers, it could be a vintage night for No. 17.
But the Bears are capable of playing the same sandlot brand of football with a pass-heavy approach. RB Matt Forte (knee) is out and RB Jeremy Langford has a ways to go to earn QB Jay Cutler’s trust as a blocker and receiver. Getting to Cutler is a charge for San Diego, but the Chargers are rarely hitting the quarterback without blitz packages that set up single coverage on the perimeter.
San Diego won’t want to stray from WR Alshon Jeffery or TE Martellus Bennett, the primary reads on most every toss Cutler made last week with steady success. Without getting something tangible from Langford, the Bears will struggle to break through on the road.
*Matchup to watch – Bears LT Charles Leno vs. Chargers LB Jeremiah Attaochu: Leno graded out well against the Vikings. He’s not a superior athlete, and Attaochu’s high motor and first step give him an instant edge. To erase that upper hand, coordinator Josh McDaniels is likely to run the ball at him to balance the scales.
*Player spotlight – Chargers WR Malcom Floyd: Old reliable, the 32-year-old Floyd has been passed over for the No. 1 role by Vincent Jackson and Allen, not to mention Gates. But with two touchdowns last week, he’s still proving his worth to Rivers and the Chargers in his final season.
*Fast facts: The Bears last played in San Diego in 2007. RB LaDainian Tomlinson ran for a score and threw for the other, a 17-yard TD to Gates. … Langford was the 107th overall pick in 2015. He switched from running back to cornerback to receiver and back to running back at Michigan State.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Philip Rivers gets time to throw and stings the secondary of the Bears for a second straight week with big plays in the fourth quarter.
*Our pick: Chargers 30-21.