2021 · Week 1

Final

Bears

Chicago

QB Andy Dalton

14·34

Rams

Los Angeles

QB Matthew Stafford

SoFi Stadium · dome · matrixturf

Closing spread

LA -9.5

Total

46

Model margin

+2.1est.

LA perspective

Push chance

None

half-point line — cannot push

Win probability

  • Rams
  • Bears

How each play moved the game.

Rams winsBears wins

Matchup

Where the edges are

Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.

Bearsedge mapRams
  • -0.087EPA / play+0.082
  • 41.4%Success rate46.6%
  • -0.077EPA / dropback+0.183
  • -0.105EPA / rush-0.089
  • 7.4%Explosive rate10.3%
  • -2.87CPOE-0.40
  • 34.7%Third-down rate42.6%
  • 52.0%Red-zone TD rate63.0%
  • 1.62Points / drive2.32
  • 2.4%Turnover rate2.1%

Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.

The rivalry

LA lead 8–7 since 1999

Meetings average 40 points. LA are 6-9 ATS in the series.

Previous meetings
SeasonMatchupScoreWinner
2025 · playoffsLA @ CHI2017RAMS
2024 · W4LA @ CHI1824CHI
2020 · W7CHI @ LA1024RAMS
2019 · W11CHI @ LA717RAMS
2018 · W14LA @ CHI615CHI
2015 · W10CHI @ STL3713CHI
2013 · W12CHI @ STL2142RAMS
2012 · W3STL @ CHI623CHI

Box score

Individual performances

Bears

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Andy Dalton27/3820601
Justin Fields2/21000

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
David Montgomery161086.81
Andy Dalton2136.50
Damien Williams6122.00
Justin Fields133.01
Marquise Goodwin1-2-2.00

Rams

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Matthew Stafford20/2632130

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Darrell Henderson16704.41
Robert Woods177.00
Sony Michel122.00
Matthew Stafford5-5-1.00

Receiving

PlayerRecTgtYdsTD
Cooper Kupp7101081
Van Jefferson23801
Tyler Higbee56680
Robert Woods34271
DeSean Jackson22210
Darrell Henderson11170

Where this game is likely to land

  • Model
  • Smooth (normal)
  • Betting line

Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.

line +9.57.0%7.5%3.1%4.7%3.0%

Positive margins favour Rams; negative favour Bears.

Half-point at risk

2.97%

outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5

Model home win

54.8%

Expected total

44.0est.

Model

Where the number comes from

Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.

  • Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+2.19
  • Home-field advantage+1.71
  • Quarterback adjustment-1.78
  • Rest differential0.00
  • Expected margin+2.12