The Chicago Bears could use a little encouragement heading into Sunday's matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. They certainly didn't get any from ESPN.
During Friday's episode of Get Up, the panel discussed Chicago's chances of rebounding from its 31-7 loss to Green Bay. Every prediction shown favored Atlanta, and the conversation quickly turned to everything that could go wrong for the Bears.
The biggest concern wasn't necessarily Caleb Williams' availability. It was whether Chicago could stop Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.
ESPN believes Bears defense could be in serious trouble
ESPN's Joe Fortenbaugh pointed to Chicago's defensive struggles as one of the biggest reasons to favor Atlanta.
"The Bears defense is a problem. They can't stop the run," Fortenbaugh said.
He also highlighted the absence of Montez Sweat, who is suspended for Sunday's game, and Chicago's decline in takeaways.
The Bears led the NFL in takeaways last season, but they're tied for 17th entering Week 6. That represents a considerable drop for a defense that relied heavily on creating extra possessions.
Former NFL player Damien Woody wasn't particularly optimistic about Chicago's chances of containing Robinson, either.
Woody suggested Atlanta should feed its star running back approximately 30 times, whether through traditional rushing attempts or receptions out of the backfield.
He compared Robinson's abilities to a video game character, describing him as having elite speed and elusiveness.
Robinson rushed for 86 yards in his previous game, but Woody believes considerably more could be coming against Chicago.
"He should be pushing 200," Woody said.
That's a pretty aggressive prediction, especially considering the Bears are already coming off one of their worst performances of the season.
Caleb Williams' return might not solve everything for Chicago
Williams returned to full practice Thursday for the first time since September 18th, but his status for Sunday remained uncertain when ESPN discussed the matchup.
Even if Williams receives clearance, Fortenbaugh questioned whether he'll be able to move effectively.
"Caleb playing and Caleb being 100% healthy are two different things," he said.
That's a legitimate concern for a quarterback whose ability to escape pressure and extend plays is such an important part of his game.
Dan Orlovsky, however, offered a more encouraging perspective.
The former NFL quarterback suggested Williams could benefit from watching how Case Keenum operated Chicago's offense during his absence.
Orlovsky believes Williams can become more effective by trusting the play call, anticipating throws and getting the football out quicker.
He even suggested Chicago could score more than 30 points if Williams combines those improvements with his natural playmaking ability.
That's hardly the outlook of someone who believes the Bears have no chance.
Bears have an opportunity to prove ESPN wrong
There's no denying Chicago has questions to answer.
The defense struggled badly against Green Bay, Sweat won't be available, and Williams' health remains a concern.
But ESPN's unanimous prediction also overlooks something worth considering.
Chicago has already shown it can respond after difficult losses. Ben Johnson's team isn't suddenly incapable of competing because of one ugly afternoon in Green Bay.
The Falcons have a dangerous offense, particularly with Robinson carrying the football. But Atlanta still has to prove it can consistently take advantage of Chicago's defensive weaknesses.
For the Bears, Sunday's game offers an opportunity to quiet some of the criticism.
And after listening to ESPN's predictions, they certainly have plenty of it to work with.
| More Bears on DaWindyCity |
Add us as a preferred source on Google