Both the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers have just two wins through the first eight weeks of the season, but barring a tie, one will have to get to three wins in Week 9.
Statistically, the Chargers are the better team, with five of their six losses coming by a one-score margin. No team has more yards of total offense than San Diego and, combined with a 20th-ranked defense, that isn't nearly enough to warrant a 2-6 record.
But when injuries stacked up in Week 8 for the Chargers, many of the team's most talented players went down and now they are limping into a Week 9 matchup with the Bears. The biggest loss for the Chargers was wide receiver Keenan Allen, who was second in the NFL in receptions before suffering a kidney laceration last Sunday.
Despite the loss, most experts are picking the Chargers to roll through the Bears, who will be without running back Matt Forte. That will hurt an offense that was already No. 27 in the NFL, even with Jay Cutler providing relatively consistent quarterback play. The Bears enter Week 9 with the No. 9 defense in terms of total yardage, but the fourth-most points allowed.
At CBS Sports, all eight panelists are taking the Chargers to bounce back with a win and only Mike Golic is picking the Bears at ESPN.
SB Nation's team is much more divided, with four picks for each side. Four of the seven experts on the panel are taking the Bears, but the OddsShark computer is going with the Chargers to even things up.
| Ryan Van Bibber | Stephen White | Joel Thorman | David Fucillo | Danny Kelly | Matt Ufford | PFT Commenter | OddsShark Computer | |
| CHI @ SD | CHI | SD | CHI | SD | SD | CHI | CHI | SD |
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