Chicago Bears: Five players to watch against the Atlanta Falcons

Akiem Hicks

Akiem Hicks had a breakout season for the Bears in 2016, recording a season high 7 sacks. Now entering his contract year, Hicks has a lot at stake in 2017. However as leader of the Bears “nasty” front seven, Akiem Hicks could also very well be a household name by the end of the season. Hicks needs to show consistency following a breakout season.

As previously mentioned, Falcons running back Devonta Freeman expects to play a big role in the Falcons offense. As one of the biggest producers in the run-stopping game, Akiem Hicks has his work cut out for him on Sunday against one of the leagues top running backs. Although stopping the Freeman will be a deciding factor in Sunday’s game, Hicks has another job besides that.

In order to slow the pace of the game and keep the ball out of Matt Ryan’s hands, the Bears will need to run an affective blitz. Against an inconsistent Falcons O-line, Akiem Hicks should see success when rushing Ryan. Sacks can be a killer for offenses, and if the Bears can control the pace of play, they can greatly increase thier chance to win.

Overall, Hicks will need to be successful in both areas of defense. If the Falcons run offense can be made ineffective and the Bears can keep Ryan under pressure, the Bears have a great chance of stealing this one. Hicks, as a leader, plays a big role in this. The play of Akiem Hicks can make or break this game for the Bears, making Hicks a player to watch.