INGLEWOOD — The Rams faced an opponent Monday that became one of the NFL’s teams to beat this season by winning game after game with late defensive stands.
The Rams beat the Chicago Bears by putting this game away early.
Their own defense came up with big plays all night. Some of Jared Goff’s third-option receivers became first options. In one telling sequence, Malcolm Brown successfully took on the whole Bears defense.
Quickly putting last week’s sloppy loss behind them, the Rams won 24-10 in front of empty SoFi Stadium stands and a national TV audience.
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The Rams Taylor Rapp (left) celebrates with teammate Terrell Burgess (right) after intercepting a pass in the end zone against the Bears in the third quarter on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Bears quarterback Nick Foles (9) is sacked in the fourth quarter by the Rams Justin Hollins on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Taylor Rapp (right) prepares to intercept a deflection created by teammate Troy Hill (second from left) in the end zone on a pass intended for Bears receiver Darnell Mooney (left) on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Leonard Floyd (54) celebrates a late game sack against the Bears on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Robert Woods (right) hurdles a Bears defender during the third quarter on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Bears quarterback Nick Foles (9) is sacked in the fourth quarter by the Rams Justin Hollins on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Josh Reynolds (11) hauls in a 4-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to give the Rams a 7-0 lead as the Bears Buster Skrine (24) defends on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws over the middle in the first quarter against the Chicago Bearsin on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Rams tight ent Johnny Mundt (82) is tackled by the Bears Eddie Jackson (39) during the first half on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Josh Reynolds (11) heads up field as the Bears Kyle Fuller (23) defends during the first quarter on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) avoids a sack by the Bears Akiem Hicks (96) during the first half on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Rams head coach reacts to a play late in the game on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 against the Bears at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Taylor Rapp (right) prepares to intercept a deflection created by teammate Troy Hill (second from left) in the end zone on a pass intended for Bears receiver Darnell Mooney (left) on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Taylor Rapp (right) prepares to intercept a deflection created by teammate Troy Hill (second from left) in the end zone on a pass intended for Bears receiver Darnell Mooney (left) on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Taylor Rapp (right) prepares to intercept a deflection created by teammate Troy Hill (second from left) in the end zone on a pass intended for Bears receiver Darnell Mooney (left) on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Taylor Rapp (right) intercepts a deflection created by teammate Troy Hill (second from left) in the end zone on a pass intended for Bears receiver Darnell Mooney (left) on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Taylor Rapp (left) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass in the end zone in the third quarter as head coach Sean McVay (right) comes to congratulate him on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Malcolm Brown (34) celebrates with teammate Josh Reynolds (11) after scoring in the third quarter against the Bears to take a 24-3 lead on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Robert Woods (17) heads up field as the Bears James Vaughters (93) moves in to make the tackle during the third quarter on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Johnny Mundt (82) heads up field as he breaks the tackle by the Bears Danny Trevathan (59) during the first half on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Malcolm Brown (34) scores in the third quarter against the Bears to give the Rams a 24-3 lead on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Johnny Mundt (82) heads up field as he breaks the tackle by the Bears Danny Trevathan (59) during the first half on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Bears defender Jaylon Johnson (33) breaks up a pass intended for the Rams Josh Reynolds (11) during the first half on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Terrell Burgess (26) is carted off the field after suffering an injury on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Jalen Ramsey (20) makes a leaping interception during the fourth quarter on a pass intended for the Bears Jimmy Graham (8) on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Johnny Mundt (82) heads up field as he breaks the tackle by the Bears Danny Trevathan (59) during the first half on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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A fan celebrates a Rams second quarter field goal on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Bears defender Jaylon Johnson (33) breaks up a pass intended for the Rams Josh Reynolds (11) during the first half on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Rams tight ent Johnny Mundt (82) is tackled by the Bears Eddie Jackson (39) during the first half on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Rams head coach reacts to a play late in the game on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 against the Bears at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears 24-10 in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Josh Reynolds (11) celebrates with teammate Darrell Henderson (27) after scoring in the first quarter to give the Rams a 7-0 lead as the Bears Buster Skrine (24) reacts on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Josh Reynolds (11) heads up field as the Bears Kyle Fuller (23) defends during the first quarter on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Johnny Mundt (82) heads up field as he breaks the tackle by the Bears Danny Trevathan (59) during the first half on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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The Rams Johnny Mundt (82) heads up field as he breaks the tackle by the Bears Danny Trevathan (59) during the first half on Monday night, Oct. 26, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams host the Chicago Bears in a National Football League game (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
“The defense made some great stops,” said wide receiver Josh Reynolds, one of several Rams who played larger than normal roles. “I think that’s just what it was, the defense suffocated them all game and didn’t let them get anything rolling.”
The Rams led by 21 points in the fourth quarter before the Bears got their lone touchdown on Eddie Jackson’s return of a Robert Woods fumble.
But the Rams’ big plays on defense made the difference.
There were interceptions of Nick Foles passes by Taylor Rapp off a Troy Hill tip in the end zone and by Jalen Ramsey to end the Bears’ last hope.
There were four sacks of Foles, two of them by Leonard Floyd, the Rams outside linebacker whom the Bears decided not to re-sign last winter.
There were three stops on fourth down, including a tackle for a loss by Terrell Lewis and a sack by Justin Hollins.
It helped the defense that punter Johnny Hekker kept pinning the Bears back, his five punts all landing inside the 20, highlighted by a 63-yarder and balls downed at the 7, 10, 1 and 6.
With Tyler Higbee injured, tight end Johnny Mundt had the best receiving game of his career, while Reynolds took a rare turn leading the Rams’ wide receivers with 52 yards and a touchdown.
For the Rams (5-2), beating the Bears (5-2) gave them their first victory this season over a team with a winning record.
If they want to remember it as a gritty bounce-back from their loss to the 49ers, they should think of the tenacity Brown and his blockers showed with the game still close in the third quarter.
On a first-down play from the Bears’ 13-yard line, Brown took a handoff from Goff, pounded up the middle and seemed to be swallowed up by the defense. But Brown stayed on his feet and the rest of the Rams got behind him and pushed. They ended up at the 1, and the last visitor to pile on drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
On the next play, Brown scored standing up, making it 17-3 and seeming to break the Bears.
“I thought that was a reflection of an entire team effort,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of the big blue-and-yellow push behind Brown.
“He got off the ground there. I think someone was holding him (up),” said Goff, who joined in the push at the end and heard the Rams’ bench roaring approval.
It was the Bears’ next possession on which Hill and Rapp combined for the end zone interception.
The Rams then went 80 yards, led by Darrell Henderson’s running and Goff’s passing, including a 12-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Gerald Everett that blew the game open.
Goff competed 23 of 33 for 219 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Henderson rushed for 64 yards on 15 carries, Brown 57 on 10. The Rams gained 161 yards on the ground.
Although the Bears scored on the Woods fumble, the Rams defense didn’t give up a second-half point, the sixth time in seven games that it allowed three or fewer after the break.
The Bears’ vaunted defense did show why it has the reputation it enjoys. Not that it had anything to prove to the Rams. The Bears beat them 15-6 in 2018, and the Rams won a tactical game 17-7 in 2019.
In this game, the Rams got across the 50-yard line on their first four possessions but came away with only one touchdown and a 10-3 halftime lead.
Winning the early field-position battle thanks to Hekker paid off in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Reynolds late in the first quarter.
Samuel Sloman kicked the extra point and must have allowed himself a deep breath for the first time since his third blown PAT of the season in last week’s loss to San Francisco prompted the Rams to sign kicker Kai Forbath as a potential alternative.
Sloman also came through with a 22-yard field goal after McVay chose not to go for first down on fourth-and-2 at the Bears’ 4 with a 7-3 lead, but the rookie’s struggles resumed when he got a 48-yard attempt blocked.
Both early scoring drives relied on Rams tight ends who weren’t Higbee.
With Higbee sidelined by a hand injury from last week’s loss to San Francisco, Everett became an early target. Everett reached behind him to make a good catch for a 15-yard gain to the Bears’ 36, the biggest gain of the touchdown drive.
Then Mundt, the third tight end who is usually used more as a blocker, caught a short pass from Goff over the middle, broke a tackle and went for 34 yards to the Bears’ 12. It was the longest play of Mundt’s career. He came into the game with 36 yards in four seasons.
Reynolds had his busiest night as a pass-catcher in his past 25 games.
“We’re loaded, man,” Reynolds said of night’s new heroes. “It’s always kind of been that next-man-up standard we have.”
It was a big team-wide effort at a big moment, with the Rams needing to beat a strong opponent to answer the questions raised by the 49ers game.
They took on a team that wins the close ones and didn’t give it that chance.
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