Chicago Bears, Chargers both face must-wins on Sunday

The Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Chargers both need to win on Sunday. Bad news? They’re playing each other.

Yes, the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Chargers might be the two most disappointing teams in the league this season. Both won 12 games a year ago before losing in the postseason. Both were expected to come back strong in 2019 with an eye on the Super Bowl. It hasn’t happened in either case.

Going into this weekend, the Chicago Bears are 3-3 and riding a two-game losing streak split by their bye week. Chicago lost in London to the Oakland Raiders before getting a week off, then getting blown out of their own building by a New Orleans Saints team sans quarterback Drew Brees, running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Jared Cook.

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As for Los Angeles, the situation is even more dire. The Chargers are 2-5 and losers of three straight. The first two came at home against the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers, teams with two combined wins outside of their encounters with Los Angeles.

Then there was last week, one of the all time gut-such defeats in league history.

Trailing 23-20, the Chargers stopped Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill on a 4th and 1 sneak. After gaining possession, quarterback Philip Rivers drove Los Angeles to Tennessee’s 1-yard line before having a pair of touchdowns called back on replay. On 2nd and GOAL with 22 seconds left, running back Melvin Gordon fumbled as he was crossing the plane, and the ball was recovered by defensive tackle Jurrell Casey. Game over.

Now the two teams meet for the first time in four years, with the venue being Soldier Field. If the Bears don’t win, it’s almost impossible to see them returning to the playoffs. Chicago would be 3-4 in the tougher conference and the most brutal division football has to offer. The Bears would almost certainly need to go 7-2 the rest of the way for even a chance, and they have games left against the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions (2x) and Kansas City Chiefs. Good luck.

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As for the Chargers, a defeat drops them to 2-6 and although the AFC is soft, Los Angeles would need to win out sans one game to have any hope. Not likely considering its schedule ahead as well (Green Bay, Minnesota, Kansas City twice).

It’s only Week 8, but two contenders are facing their last stand on Sunday afternoon in Chicago.