Bears 2020 schedule: Can Los Angeles Rams regain contender status?

The Game
The Bears will head to Los Angeles to face the Rams on October 26, their first of two Monday Night Football appearances in the upcoming 2020 campaign. It will be the third-straight season in which these two teams have squared off, preceded by the Bears’ defense smothering the Rams in a 15-6 win at Soldier Field in 2018 and the Rams winning 17-7 last November in L.A. This year’s matchup will be the Bears’ first visit to the Rams’ new home field, SoFi Stadium.

Players to Watch
It will be intriguing to see how former Bears OLB Leonard Floyd does in new surroundings after signing with the Rams soon after his release by the Bears. The 2016 first-round pick did not get the job done in Chicago from a pass-rushing standpoint, even with ample opportunity last season as Khalil Mack garnered extra attention in Akiem Hicks’ absence. Offensively, Jared Goff took a step back in 2019, throwing for 10 fewer touchdowns and averaging a full yard less per attempt than in 2018. Will head coach Sean McVay be able to steer his QB back on track? The Bears have certainly had Goff’s number, as he’s thrown for 353 total yards, no touchdowns and five interceptions in their two meetings.

Additions & Subtractions
The Rams did some legitimate remodeling of their roster this offseason, and cutting star RB Todd Gurley headlined their moves. GM Les Snead also said goodbye to veterans Clay Matthews, Brandin Cooks, and Dante Fowler. Aside from the aforementioned Floyd, A’Shawn Robinson comes over from Detroit and looks to be a solid run-stuffing presence on the defensive line to pair with perennial All-Pro Aaron Donald.

Key Storyline
A 9-7, third-place 2019 season was a big step back from a Super Bowl berth the year before, and the Rams might be living proof of how quickly a contention window can slam shut in the NFL. L.A. once looked like the class of the NFC West for years to come, but Seattle has reloaded from their Legion of Boom days behind Russell Wilson and the 49ers are the defending conference champions. Can McVay and Goff get the Rams back to the playoffs playing in what will likely be one of the toughest divisions in the entire league?