Both the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams are entering the 2021–22 NFL season with exciting new quarterbacks, albeit only one is starting in the season’s first edition of Sunday Night Football. Apologies to Andy Dalton, but the starter worth getting excited about is Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles, as the former first-overall pick might be just what Sean McVay’s offence has been missing in order to become a contender again.

Kickoff at SoFi Stadium is set for 8:20 EST.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Sunday night’s bout features one of the largest and most lopsided spreads of the week, as the Rams are sitting as 7.5-point favourites to win on the NFL odds, while receiving 79 per cent of bets on Sports Interaction. Both teams made the playoffs a year ago, but it’s safe to say Los Angeles improved thanks to the addition of Stafford, while Chicago made at best a horizontal move in signing Dalton.

The Bears have dropped eight of their last 11 games overall and 13 of their last 18 while visiting the Rams too. For Los Angeles, their league-leading defence a season ago put them on a serious under trend, going 11 for 15 to close out their year including having eight consecutive home games going under the total. For Sunday, that number is set at 46.

Chicago Bears

When the Bears signed Dalton to a one-year, $10-million contract, head coach Matt Nagy was adamant Dalton would start for Chicago. Many thought Nagy would go back on his word when Chicago traded up in the draft to get Ohio State pivot Justin Fields but it’s still Dalton getting the start in L.A.

Dalton’s entering his 11th NFL season and has over 33,000 career passing yards but clearly has his best days behind him. He finished his last season in Cincinnati going 2-11 before winning four of nine starts with Dallas in 2020.

Chicago’s offence will prominently feature running back David Montgomery and receiver Allen Robinson. Montgomery finished fifth in the NFL last season with 1,070 rushing yards and Robinson was ninth with 1,250 receiving yards.

Los Angeles Rams

As Jared Goff passed for 174 yards in Los Angeles’ NFL Divisional Round loss a year ago and the Stafford trade rumours heated up, a fit with the Rams seemed inevitable. Now McVay, one of the league’s best offensive minds having one of the league’s most underappreciated QBs in Stafford. Rams receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods are also big winners of the Stafford trade. Kupp had 92 grabs for 974 yards in 2020–21 and Woods 90 for 936 — both could hit 1,000 this season.

And while defensive coordinator Brandon Staley has moved on to a head coaching gig, defensive tackle Aaron Donald and defensive back Jalen Ramsey are back as mainstays on L.A.’s defence.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Bears vs. Rams?

• Regular Season

Bears Team Leaders

CHI

Touchdowns	David Montgomery 3
Rushing	David Montgomery 309
Passing	Justin Fields 816
Receiving	Darnell Mooney 27
Sacks	Khalil Mack 6
Interceptions	Angelo Blackson 1

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 9
Rushing	Darrell Henderson Jr. 417
Passing	Matthew Stafford 2172
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 56
Sacks	Leonard Floyd 4.5
Interceptions	Jalen Ramsey 2

• Regular Season

Rams Team Leaders

CHI

Touchdowns	David Montgomery 3
Rushing	David Montgomery 309
Passing	Justin Fields 816
Receiving	Darnell Mooney 27
Sacks	Khalil Mack 6
Interceptions	Angelo Blackson 1

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 9
Rushing	Darrell Henderson Jr. 417
Passing	Matthew Stafford 2172
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 56
Sacks	Leonard Floyd 4.5
Interceptions	Jalen Ramsey 2

Weather

temp	71
condition	sunny
wind	Southwest 10mph

Injuries

Chicago

James Daniels (OL)

Prob Sun Knee - 27 / 10 / 21

J.P. Holtz (TE)

Ques Sun Quadricep - 27 / 10 / 21

Khalil Mack (LB)

Out Sun Foot - 27 / 10 / 21

Bilal Nichols (DL)

Ques Sun Knee - 27 / 10 / 21

Allen Robinson II (WR)

Ques Sun Ankle - 27 / 10 / 21

Jakeem Grant Sr. (WR)

Ques Sun Ankle - 27 / 10 / 21

Elijah Wilkinson (OL)

Out indefinitely Illness - 24 / 10 / 21

Jimmy Graham (TE)

Out indefinitely Illness - 22 / 10 / 21

Bilal Nichols (DL)

Ques Sun Knee - 22 / 10 / 21

Duke Shelley (DB)

Ques Sun Ankle - 22 / 10 / 21

L.A. Rams

Jordan Fuller (S)

Ques Sun Knee - 25 / 10 / 21

Sebastian Joseph-Day (DL)

Ques Sun Pectoral - 25 / 10 / 21

Robert Rochell (DB)

Ques Sun Knee - 24 / 10 / 21

Brian Allen (OL)

Prob Sun Illness - 22 / 10 / 21

Michael Brockers (DL)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 22 / 10 / 21

Sony Michel (RB)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 18 / 10 / 21

Johnny Mundt (TE)

I-R Knee - 17 / 10 / 21

Aaron Donald (DL)

Prob Sun Knee - 15 / 10 / 21

Matt Gay (K)

Prob Sun Ankle - 15 / 10 / 21

Jake Funk (RB)

I-R Hamstring - 15 / 10 / 21

Injuries

Chicago

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
James Daniels (OL)	Prob Sun	Knee - 27 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Daniels has hurt his knee, but it is projected that he will face the 49ers on Sunday.
J.P. Holtz (TE)	Ques Sun	Quadricep - 27 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Holts is hampered by a quadricep injury, and it is up in the air if he will battle the 49ers on Sunday.
Khalil Mack (LB)	Out Sun	Foot - 27 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Mack is tending to a foot injury, and he will not suit up against the 49ers on Sunday.
Bilal Nichols (DL)	Ques Sun	Knee - 27 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Nichols has injured his knee, and it is unclear if he will participate in Sunday's contest versus the 49ers.
Allen Robinson II (WR)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 27 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Robinson II is managing an ankle injury, and it is undetermined if he will suit up for Sunday's showdown against the 49ers.
Jakeem Grant Sr. (WR)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 27 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Grant Sr. is bothered by an ankle injury, and it remains to be seen if he will take the field on Sunday versus the 49ers.
Elijah Wilkinson (OL)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 24 / 10 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Wilkinson has landed on the IR/COVID-19 list, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Jimmy Graham (TE)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 22 / 10 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Graham has been ticketed for the IR/COVID-19 list, and he is without a definitive timetable for recovery.
Bilal Nichols (DL)	Ques Sun	Knee - 22 / 10 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Nichols is hampered by a knee injury, and it has yet to be announced if he will be active against the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Duke Shelley (DB)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 22 / 10 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Shelley is tending to an ankle issue, leaving his status against the Buccaneers on Sunday hazy.

L.A. Rams

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jordan Fuller (S)	Ques Sun	Knee - 25 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Fuller is dealing with a knee injury, and it is unknown if he will take on the Texans on Sunday.
Sebastian Joseph-Day (DL)	Ques Sun	Pectoral - 25 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Joseph-Day is hindered by a pectoral issue, and it is up in the air if he will line up against the Texans on Sunday.
Robert Rochell (DB)	Ques Sun	Knee - 24 / 10 / 21	1-1	0-1-1	+ -
Rochell was forced from the previous game with a knee injury, and it is unknown if he will face the Texans on Sunday.
Brian Allen (OL)	Prob Sun	Illness - 22 / 10 / 21	1-1	0-1-1	+ -
Allen is ailing from an illness, but he is expected to take on the Lions on Sunday.
Michael Brockers (DL)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 22 / 10 / 21	1-1	0-1-1	+ -
Brockers is expected to be a participant for Sunday's tilt with the Rams despite a shoulder injury.
Sony Michel (RB)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 18 / 10 / 21	1-1	0-1-1	+ -
Michel is expected to take on the Lions on Sunday despite a shoulder injury.
Johnny Mundt (TE)	I-R	Knee - 17 / 10 / 21	2-1	0-2-1	+ -
Mundt has been posted to the injured reserve list with a torn ACL.
Aaron Donald (DL)	Prob Sun	Knee - 15 / 10 / 21	2-1	0-2-1	+ -
Donald is bothered by a knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will lace up against the Giants on Sunday.
Matt Gay (K)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 15 / 10 / 21	2-1	0-2-1	+ -
Gay is projected to take part in Sunday's clash with the Giants despite an ankle injury.
Jake Funk (RB)	I-R	Hamstring - 15 / 10 / 21	2-1	0-2-1	+ -
Funk has been entered to the injured reserve list with a torn hamstring.