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. Though if fans in L.A. were unable to keep football franchises afloat before, what makes them think now will be different?
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Both teams have suffered from poor special teams play. The 1972 Bears finished with the league’s fewest passing yards, the lowest completion percentage and the second worst quarterback rating.
It’s been a bad season for the Chargers and it continues to get worse. 31 picks later, the Chargers snatched up Oregon QB Dan Fouts.
Pernell McPhee, when feeling good, has been a solid pass rusher for the Bears, so he should be able to beat his man across the line. The Pennsylvania native chose to sign with the Bears instead of taking his bruising hits to the West Coast. Keenan Allen is the most recent, and most significant, player to be injured this year.
In his rookie year, he played in 15 games and had 71 receptions for 1,046 yards and a career best eight touchdowns. The Hall-of-Famer was there for the picking.
On Monday night in San Diego, the Bears will face the Chargers and quarterback Philip Rivers.
The Chargers frequently employ a no-huddle offense, which could force the Bears to limit their substitutions.
-ILB Denzel Perryman (biceps), who missed the last two games, returned to practice. Allen was on his way to a stellar season, being among the league-leaders in receptions until getting hurt. Eddie Royal, who was getting ready for revenge against the Chargers, is also expected to miss the game with a knee injury. But with two touchdowns last week, he’s still proving his worth to Rivers and the Chargers in his final season.
ICYMI, 2015 marks the 30 anniversary of the 1985 Bears, the last team to bring a Super Bowl title to Chicago. To be fair, the Bears were spared any similar potential embarrassment because none of their games were scheduled for Sunday night in the first place.
The Bears quarterback situation was in disarray, however. This team is crippled right now and it’s starting to show on the field. Former Kansas City Chief Steve Fuller then took over the reins, and he started the Week 14 game against San Diego. Bears lead series, 6-5.
Trailing 13-7 late in the fourth quarter, Lisch, who passed for only 159 yards on 33 attempts, was intercepted by Chargers lineman Lee Williams, who rumbled 66 yards for the game clinching touchdown in a 20-7 Bears loss. He had a newspaper there sitting right beside him, of his catch, that ended up having him laying where he was laying. So do it – throw the ball and take advantage of a banged-up Bears secondary.
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Vikings placekicker Blair Walsh converted the winning field goal of the game to bury the Bears on a two-game losing skid.
