The Chicago Bears have lost three straight. Sunday might be their best chance to get back in the win column before the schedule turns ugly. The New York Jets and Green Bay Packers are up next, followed by Buffalo and Philadelphia coming out of the bye week. The Bears can’t afford to waste this game. Atlanta is 4-6 and maybe the only vulnerable team left on the schedule short of a rematch with the Detroit Lions in December. The obvious question is whether Matt Eberflus can get the necessary effort and execution out of them.
It’s interesting how parallel these teams are. Both are rebuilding. Both are playing in close games almost every week. The key difference lay in where their strengths are. Those strengths could lead to a fun matchup. Everybody remembers what happened last time with Nick Foles and that huge comeback. Maybe the Bears have more magic up their sleeves this time.
The Chicago Bears face a rather familiar setup by now.
Backstory:
It’ll be a reunion game for so many since the Falcons employ several former Bears. Chief among them is Ryan Pace. One can only imagine what might be going through his mind ahead of this game. He was the one who engineered the trade up in the 2021 draft to secure Fields. Now the young quarterback is emerging as a possible star. That has to sting for Pace. He spent so much time, money, and picks trying to find that elusive franchise QB for the Bears. Then the moment he actually pulls it off, he’s fired. It won’t be a fun afternoon for him if Fields has another big game in Atlanta.
Injuries:
Teven Jenkins (hip) – The standout guard was missed last week as Detroit took advantage of his absence to dictate the tempo of the game. Jenkins practiced in full on Friday and indicated he wants to play. Chicago declared him questionable but signs point to him returning after missing a week of action. It is a timely return with the offensive line having to face dangerous Falcons interior pass rusher Grady Jarrett.
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A.J. Terrell (hamstring) – Atlanta’s pass defense wasn’t all that great, even with Terrell on the field. Without him, it completely fell apart. He hasn’t played since week seven. Barring a setback, expectations are he’ll be back on the field for this game. It will be interesting to see if he’s at 100%. Hamstrings are tricky injuries for players at that position. The Chicago Bears would be wise to test him deep a few times.
Key matchups:
Jack Sanborn vs. Cordarrelle Patterson – Like Chicago, the Falcons have produced an effective offense this year through creativity and the benefits of a mobile quarterback. Having Patterson with his multitool skillset doesn’t hurt. They’re going to get him the ball in the backfield several times. Sanborn was excellent against Detroit, but his instincts will be put to the test since he doesn’t have the speed to keep up with Patterson.
Darnell Mooney vs. A.J. Terrell – Atlanta has been vulnerable deep this year. Terrell is one such culprit. Teams are beating him for 11.9 yards per reception. Now that he’s nursing a recovering hamstring, it’s the perfect opportunity for Fields to give his speedy receiver some opportunities down the field. It’ll be indoors on that fast turf. If the offensive line can offer decent protection, the chances will be there.
X-factors:
Grady Jarrett – The Falcons pass rush goes through the former Pro Bowler. If he can create havoc in the middle, it makes life so much easier for everybody else. Conversely, teams that are able to slow him down tend to find lots of success through the air because nobody else is good enough to take over games. That should be the Bears’ game plan. Don’t let Jarrett ruin everything.
David Montgomery – Running the ball is the identity of Chicago’s offense. Everything they do comes off of the ground attack. Khalil Herbert going on IR was a tough blow for them. He’s been their most explosive option. That puts added pressure on Montgomery, who’s been averaging 3.5 yards per carry, to pick up the slack. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy may have to adjust the scheme to fit what he does well.
Prediction: Falcons win 28-27
The Chicago Bears have developed a trend in recent weeks. They scored a lot of points, they are always in a tight game, and they seem to find a way to lose it right at the end. Everything sets up for a similar outcome in Atlanta. Fields and the offense should be able to score against this Falcons defense. The problem is the Bears dense isn’t well-equipped to stop anybody right now. It will be a fun game that probably comes down to another last-minute scoring drive given up by the defense.
Bears will win with Fields enjoying a homecoming of sorts.
As a Bears fan it’s hard to wish for them to keep losing, but in the end, every loss is a win in it’s own way. I really hope the Bears end up in the top 2 position to be able to max out on trade offers in the draft. I mentioned it before, but worst case scenario is the Bears losing out until Detroit and Minnesota for the last two games of the year, then beating them both because Detroit is just plain bad and Minnesota may be sitting their starters. This is a tough year to go through… Read more »