Where: LP Field, Nashville, Tenn. (grass, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox)
Spread: Bears by 3 1/2
Forecast: Partly sunny; projected temperature 60 degrees
Records: Bears (6-1, 1-1 in NFC North); Titans (3-5, 0-2 in AFC South)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 9, 2008: Titans 21, Bears 14; Nov. 14, 2004: Bears 19, Titans 17, OT. Series record: Tied 5-5. The road team has won the last three.
What matters: The Bears are trying for their first six-game winning streak since starting the 2006 season 7-0 while maintaining a 1 1/2-game lead over the 5-3 Vikings and Packers in the NFC North. The Bears offense has gotten into the end zone only once in each of the last two games and is currently averaging 3.2 fewer points per game than it did last year under QB Jay Cutler. The Bears defense has made it possible for the offense to have more possessions, even though the offense has done less with it. The Bears defense ranks No. 1 in the league and goes up against Titans RB Chris Johnson, who has come on strong the past three games with 385 yards after 210 yards the first five games. The defense hopes to add to its 23 turnovers forced (2nd in the NFL) by going against former Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck, who has a passer rating of 81 against them in six previous matchups (3-3 record).
Who matters: Cutler continues to struggle early in games even though the offense did score touchdowns in the first quarter against both Carolina and Detroit. Cutler has a passer rating of just 67.3 in the first three quarters of games and 132.0 in the fourth quarter of games. He appears over any problems caused by bruised ribs suffered against Detroit two weeks ago and goes up against a Titans defense ranked 30th in the league. ... RB Matt Forte hopes to capitalize on the league's 28th-ranked run defense and comes in averaging 4.6 yards a carry, but he has had more than 16 carries only twice -- his two biggest rushing games against Jacksonville (107 yards) and Detroit (96). ... CB Tim Jennings comes in leading the NFL with six interceptions.
Key matchups: Bears DB D.J. Moore on Titans rookie WR Kendall Wright. The Titans have been throwing short routes to Wright, mostly slants. So far the Bears defense has liked moving Tim Jennings to the shorter receivers, like they did with Steve Smith. But that may not be the case here as they'll likely play it straight in zone because the real fear is Chris Johnson breaking a long run or taking a pass out of the backfield for a TD. Most of Wright's patterns have been on the inside where the nickel plays in zone. Almost half of Wright's 40 catches (19) have come on third down, which leads the NFL. But he averages just 9.6 yards a catch. ... Bears WR Brandon Marshall against CB Jason McCourty. Tennessee's fourth-year, 5-foot-10 corner will have his hands full against a receiver owning a 7-inch height edge. McCourty has two INTs for the league's 29th-ranked pass defense. The Titans have given up some gaudy passing numbers, including 583 yards to Detroit and 433 to a poor Vikings passing attack. Considering only two teams have worse sacks-per-pass-play numbers than the Titans, Cutler should have plenty of time to find Marshall. This looks like a mismatch. ... DE Julius Peppers vs. LT Michael Roos. The Titans tackle is a proven veteran who has started every game until this season since coming into the league in 2005. He's 6-7, 320, which helps greatly against Peppers' size. However, he's coming off an appendectomy that kept him out of the only game he's ever missed last week. It's a situation where Peppers will have a big quickness edge.
Injuries of note: LB Lance Briggs had a toe injury that limited him in practice late in the week and could be a concern, particularly because he has a lot of the run-stopping responsibility against Johnson. ... WR Alshon Jeffery (hand fracture) will miss his third straight game. ... TE Matt Spaeth had an ankle injury that cost him practice time but appears fine.
Inside stuff: The Bears aren't happy with the consistency of the inside pass rush and it appears DT Amobi Okoye will sit again this week with Nate Collins getting another chance after impressing coaches. DT Henry Melton also has to step up his productivity both against the run and pass after a fast start. They also are likely to rotate D.J. Moore and Kelvin Hayden at nickel, hoping to take advantage of Hayden's size as an extra tackler if Johnson is used in the passing game or on draw plays.
Connections: Cutler, Bears WR Earl Bennett and Moore all played their college ball in Nashville at Vanderbilt.
Stat you should know: Titans DE Kamerion Wimbley had four sacks in one half against the Bears in a preseason game while playing for Oakland, and has two in two regular season games against them. ... The Bears defense has had at least one INT in eight straight games dating back to last year. The last time they didn't get one was the next-to-last game of 2011 against Green Bay.
Record watch: Devin Hester remains one behind Deion Sanders for the most combined TD returns (INT-fumble-kick-punt) in NFL history and will get more chances this week to try and break one than last week because the Titans' coverage units are a confident group, led by former Bears special teamer Tim Shaw.
Looking ahead: The Bears play their final AFC opponent when they host J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans at Soldier Field Sunday night.
Prediction: Bears 31, Titans 23.
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.
