Who’s got the advantage? Rams-Bears at each position

The #5 seed Los Angeles Rams (13-5) will travel to Soldier Field to face the #2 seed Chicago Bears (12-6) this upcoming Sunday for the opportunity to play in the NFC Championship Game. The Rams are currently road favorites (-3.5) but are 0-2 at Chicago during the Sean McVay era. LA will be getting some reinforcements back for this matchup, as Kevin Dotson (ankle) is expected to return to the right guard spot. Will the return of their top guard give them an advantage in the trenches? Here is my analysis of the Rams-Bears matchup and who has the advantage at each position.

QBs: Matthew Stafford and Caleb Williams both engineered 4th quarter comebacks and game winning drives to advance to the divisional round. Both quarterbacks have been clutch in the 4th quarter and have the ability to manufacture when it matters most. Stafford put together an impressive regular season (1st team All Pro) but Caleb Williams was also impressive in his second year (27 TDs : 7 INT). The knock on Caleb is the poor completion percentage (58.1%) and the head scratching plays that lead to turnovers. At this point, the quarterback with the ball in his hands at the end of the game is likely to win.

Advantage: Rams (moderate)

RBs: Both teams operate with a tandem in the backfield. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum rushed 24 times for 102 yards in the wild card round. Their longest run of the afternoon was only 8 yards.

DeAndre Swift and Kyle Monangai rushed 21 times for 81 yards against Green Bay. I give Chicago a slight edge here with Swift’s shiftiness, especially as a pass catcher in Johnson’s offense. He could be a mismatch for Nate Landman and Omar Speights. Maybe a better way to say this is that the Bears ceiling is higher with their running backs but they also have a lower floor.

Advantage: Bears (slight)

WRs: If he hadn’t already, Puka Nacua eclipses Cooper Kupp in the Rams all time WRs rankings. He’s been more consistent and make plays time and time again that leaves you speechless. And I love Cooper Kupp. But Puka’s first three years have been pretty special. The only concerns I have right now with the Rams wide receivers is 1) Davante Adams has been underwhelming between the 30s and oftentimes letting the ball get too deep to his body, and 2) this offense needs to capitalize on Tutu Atwell’s speed if even as a decoy! Think back to Weeks 4 and 5 where the Colts and 49ers defenses had to respect his ability to take the top off. That allowed for Stafford to pick apart those teams’ secondaries.

The Bears wide receivers could be a similar challenge as Carolina’s. Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and DJ Moore are all 6’0” or taller and all way 200+ lbs. None of them are the featured target, making the Rams secondary have to factor all three guys and the tight ends.

Advantage: Rams (slight)

TEs:...