Chicago Bears: 5 Players who must shine vs. Rams in Week 11

Eddie Goldman, DT

The Chicago Bears still have a great defense, despite falling a notch. When they aren’t having to spend 40 minutes on the field and try making a stop at the end of the game, they are still dominant.

For example, when the offense went on long drives as they did against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4, the defense completely shut down the Vikings offense. Kirk Cousins couldn’t do much with Bears defenders constantly in his face. Dalvin Cook came in as the top runner in the league, slashing every defense up to that time. The Bears held him to just 35 rushing yards.

The Bears face Todd Gurley in Week 11. He is a dynamic runner but has struggled this season. With Gurley, the Rams haven’t hit 100 rushing yards in six of the past seven games. The Bears need to make that seven of eight.

Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman has done a great job of clogging up the middle ever since the Bears drafted him 39th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. Opposing running backs can’t do much trying to hit the middle, having them try to go left or right where the ends and the outside linebackers are there to stop them.

Of course, that job is easier with Akiem Hicks. He is still on injured reserve so he won’t be there to do his stellar job. Roy Robertson-Harris on one side and Bilal Nichols on the other have done a good job as well, however. Then add Nick Williams and the line is pretty solid, even without HIcks. In fact, Williams actually leads the team in sacks with six. If I bet you before the season that Williams would be the leading sack man after nine games, I would have won a lot of money.

The Rams have injury problems up and down their offensive line. They lost center Brian Allen. Now they have to move guard Austin Blythe to center and play recently picked up Austin Corbett off the bench. Tackle Rob Hevenstein is also out, so David Edwards goes in his place. Having new and moved players on the line is something the Bears front should take advantage of in this game.

If Goldman does his job up the middle, Gurley and whoever else runs the ball for the Rams will have a long, frustrating game.