Chicago Bears vs. St. Louis Rams: Full St. Louis Game Preview

The St. Louis Rams (4-4) will take on the Chicago Bears (3-5) at the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. It's a chance for the Rams to bounce back and reclaim a winning record. 

St. Louis is coming off a demoralizing 21-18 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings. It was a critical road loss with possible playoff implications, but the Rams are not done. A victory over the struggling Bears will help St. Louis restore some of that lost confidence. 

The Bears lost five of their first seven contests, but Chicago is coming off a key road victory over the San Diego Chargers, so this game is hardly an easy win for the Rams.

If the Rams want to get back into the playoff race, they must prove they can avoid choking against lesser opponents. If they fall short against an underwhelming team such as the Bears, it will practically kill their playoff hopes. 

News and Notes

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Stedman Bailey Suspended Four Games

As if the St. Louis aerial game hadn't suffered enough, the NFL has suspended wide receiver Stedman Bailey for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, per NFL.com. 

The four-game punishment will keep Bailey out until the second Sunday of December. 

Bailey was suspended for four games for the same reason during the 2014 season, per ESPN.com. Since he's a repeat offender, the Rams may decide to respond harshly after his return. 

With just 12 catches in eight games this season, Bailey has been one of the more underwhelming and disappointing members of the offense. He's been virtually invisible, which could make him expendable following this latest incident. 

It's unlikely the Rams will do anything too drastic before the end of the season. As for his 2016 status, however, this suspension could hurt his future. 

Rams Sign WR Wes Welker

Even before Bailey's suspension, the Rams were in desperate need of a capable pass-catcher. The team is hoping veteran wide receiver Wes Welker can provide that much-needed boost to the aerial game. 

The Rams signed the 34-year-old to a contract this week, according to Yahoo Sports. 

Welker spent six seasons in New England as Tom Brady's No. 1 target, posting five seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving. He's was less of a difference-maker the last two seasons in Denver, but he still managed over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns in 21 starts. 

It's unclear what Welker's immediate role will be. Luckily, he's a 12-year veteran, so the learning curve should be small for him. 

If he can be an intermediate-range weapon—something the offense has been lacking—he'll give the aerial game a significant boost.

Latest Injury News

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Here is the latest injury report, according to NFL.com. Check NFL.com closer to kickoff for a more up-to-date list. 

Chicago Bears Injuries 

• K Robbie Gould (Did Not Participate In Practice)
• LB Pernell McPhee (Did Not Participate)
• S Antrel Rolle (Did Not Participate)
• WR William Royal (Did Not Participate)
• T Jermon Bushrod (Limited Participation)
• RB Matthew Forte (Limited Participation)
• C Hroniss Grasu (Limited Participation)
• LB Shea McClellin (Limited Participation)

St. Louis Rams Injuries

• LB Akeem Ayers (Did Not Participate)
• RB Todd Gurley (Did Not Participate)
• T Rob Havenstein (Did Not Participate)
• DE Chris Long (Did Not Participate)
• S T.J. McDonald (Did Not Participate)
• DE Robert Quinn (Did Not Participate)
• RB Chase Reynolds (Full Participation) 

St. Louis defenders Robert Quinn and T.J. McDonald were out last week, which was a major blow to the defense. Rookie tackle Rob Havenstein also missed the game, which hurt the run game. 

Luckily, all three players will return against Chicago, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. The return of three key players will result in a much sharper team on the field. 

The most alarming name on the list is Todd Gurley, but there's no need to fret. 

According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Rams held Gurley out of practice only to give him a little extra rest. There's no specific injury. 

Top Matchups

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Janoris Jenkins vs. Alshon Jeffery

Cornerback Janoris Jenkins has been a reliable part of the defense and has shut down receivers on a weekly basis.

Even last week when the defense was not at its best, Jenkins helped take the Minnesota aerial game out of the equation. Stefon Diggs was the Vikings' top receiver with just three catches for 42 yards. Overall, the Rams gave up just two passing plays of 20 or more yards. 

This week, Jenkins will receive perhaps his greatest challenge so far this season. He'll line up across from Pro Bowl receiver Alshon Jeffery, who is 6'3" and 216 pounds. 

Jeffery has 100-plus yards receiving in each of his last three starts, including a 151-yard performance against San Diego. It will be Jenkins' job to ensure he does not run wild. 

Jay Cutler vs. St. Louis Pass Rush

Jay Cutler has been sacked more than twice in just one game this season. Overall, his protection up front has been solid. 

The Rams pass rush has continued to thrive and ranks second in the NFL with 27 sacks. This will be the first time the Chicago offense has faced a top-five pass rush this year, so the Bears will have their hands full. 

The Cutler-to-Jeffery connection will be one of the biggest threats to the Rams in this game. If St. Louis can get after Cutler, it will make him jumpy in the pocket and reluctant to take shots downfield. 

Matchup X-Factors

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Can the Passing Game Show Some Life?

The St. Louis aerial attack has been putrid in 2015. The Rams rank dead-last in passing offense, averaging just 177.1 yards per game.  

If not for Kenny Britt's 55-yard grab against Minnesota, the Vikings would have held St. Louis to just 113 passing yards. Instead, Nick Foles finished with 168 yards, which is surprisingly only his fourth-lowest total in a game this year. Last week marks the seventh consecutive time St. Louis has recorded less than 200 yards passing. 

The Rams rank fourth in rushing offense but are 31st in overall offense. That's how awful the passing offense has been—when averaged in with a top-five rushing attack, the offense is still nearly dead-last in the league.  

That's like scoring 100 percent on the first test, only to fail the class after scoring a zero on the second test. 

The addition of Welker could open things up. He's a machine when it comes to converting third downs, and he's a much-needed veteran presence at the receiver position. 

Still, it's unclear if he'll even play Sunday. 

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Fisher is not commenting on Welker's status this Sunday. Even if he is active, it's unlikely he'll see a major role until he's comfortable with his new quarterback. 

With or without Welker, the Rams must be better than they've been. If something doesn't spark the passing game, it's unlikely St. Louis will make much noise in the playoff race. 

The Offense Depends on Todd Gurley's Continued Dominance

Until the passing game comes around, the Rams will continue to rely on Todd Gurley for everything. 

Considering the Bears rank fifth overall in pass defense, it appears we'll once again witness the Gurley Show this Sunday. Chicago ranks just 24th against the run and has allowed 121.6 rushing yards per game, so the opportunities will be there for big plays. 

Gurley had a "down" week against the Vikings after averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. Even so, he still managed to rush for 89 yards and a touchdown and produced 109 total yards from scrimmage. 

Gurley had his moments, but the Rams never really managed to get him going. 

The Rams cannot afford another slow start for Gurley and the offensive line. They need to get him going as soon as possible in order to capitalize on Chicago's weak run defense. 

Prediction: Rams 20, Bears 10

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The Rams were embarrassed in a lot of ways last week. 

Rodney Harrison took shots at Jeff Fisher. Head coach Mike Zimmer of the Vikings called out Rams coordinator Gregg Williams, and cornerback Lamarcus Joyner took heat for his hit on Teddy Bridgewater. 

There are two different versions of this team—the motivated Rams and the lackluster Rams. As we've seen in the past, a motivated Rams team is difficult to defeat. If the recent heat on St. Louis doesn't fire up the team, nothing will. 

The Rams will play at home, the team will be fired up, and several key starters are returning to the lineup. Not to mention, Chicago's 22nd-ranked offense (347.1 yards per game) will have a difficult time producing against a stout St. Louis defense. 

The Rams should come away with this win. If they don't, they're not nearly the team many thought they were. 

Prediction: Rams 20, Bears 10