Chicago Bears: Matching up with NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons
The Chicago Bears will take on the Atlanta Falcons in the first week of the NFL season. Here is everything you need to know about this game.
The first week of the 2017 NFL season has finally arrived. The Chicago Bears will face the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field at 12:00 CT. The Falcons are the defending NFC champions and are coming off a crushing Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots.
It will be interesting to see how the Falcons play against the Bears. If the Falcons struggle early it could begin negative emotions brewing for a team already suffering from Super Bowl hangover, which could affect their entire season.
However, it is also entirely possible that the Falcons do not miss a beat and the number one offense from 2016 has no problem marching up and down the field against the Bears.
What to watch for from the Chicago Bears offense
All eyes will be on quarterback Mike Glennon. Who is Glennon? Is he someone that wants to seize this opportunity and prove that he can be a starting quarterback in this league, or is he a quarterback who will crumble under the pressure of looking over his shoulder to Mitch Trubisky?
These questions will begin to be answered on Sunday.
The Bears wide receivers will also be a topic of conversation against the Falcons.after the season-ending injury to Cameron Meredith, second-year receiver Kevin White is the de-facto number one option. He needs to show that he can stay healthy during the full game, as well as make plays. White needs to be able to go downfield and attack the football while it is in the air.
Chicago Bears
Kendall Wright needs to help Glennon move the chains with shallow crosses. The hope is that he can be a reliable target underneath. Who else will step up at the position? Can Markus Wheaton, who is recovering from a broken finger, play?
In the end, the foundation of the Bears offense will be through the running game. The offensive line must open up running lanes for Jordan Howard. If he is unable to run the ball effectively, then it is going to be a long day for the Chicago Bears.
Tarik Cohen should see the field, too. I would not even be against seeing Cohen and Howard on the field together. Cohen has lightning speed and can break a long touchdown, at any time. Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains will be faced with the task of finding plays for Cohen to be successful, against a strong Falcons’ defense.
What to watch for from the Chicago Bears Defense
The Chicago Bears defense will face the tough task of facing the Falcons’ lethal offense. Led by quarterback Matt Ryan, the Falcons will also look to run the ball with the two-headed monster of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.
If Prince Amukamara is unable to play with an ankle injury, I can see Kyle Fuller getting a shot at facing top receiver Julio Jones. While it is almost impossible to shut down Jones, I believe Fuller can slow him down. He held Jones to four catches for 68 yards, in 2014, and really played well against him.
The performance of the Chicago Bears’ defensive line will be key. They will need to be dominating the line of scrimmage. Akiem Hicks, Willie Young, Eddie Goldman and Leonard Floyd will be relied on heavily to make plays. Also, Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris will need to give good snaps, to give the starters some rest.
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Those players need to apply pressure, because if they do not, Ryan will likely shred the defense. If they can slow down the run game of the Falcons, it could make them one dimensional, which would allow Floyd and Hicks to pin their ears back and rush the passer.
If Pernell McPhee is able to play, the Chicago Bears chances of playing great defense will only increase. Not only is he relentless in his pursuit of quarterbacks, but he is also an emotional leader. He can inspire his teammates to make plays and to keep up their effort.
I expect the linebacking corps of Jerrell Freeman, Danny Trevathan and Nick Kwiatkoski to cover tight ends and help stop the run. I really do not think that the Falcons will be able to run the football effectively. You saw how hard it was for DeMarco Murray to find open running lanes in the third preseason game.
However, I am not sure of what to expect from Eddie Jackson, the new starting safety alongside Quintin Demps. I love the talent of Jackson, but I am a little concerned of Ryan looking him off or making him hesitate with pump fakes. Sometimes rookies can be exposed in those areas, and it would not surprise me if that was the case on Sunday. It will be up to Demps to take Jackson under his wing and help him during the game, if it is necessary.
In the end, this should be an interesting game between two young teams. The Chicago Bears get to test out their up-and-coming defense against one of the best offenses in the NFL, while the offense gets tested by the exotic Falcons’ defense.
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I believe that the Chicago Bears defense will keep the game close. It will be up to Glennon to make a few plays. Can he do that? We will find out on Sunday, September 10th.