Quarterback Matt Ryan (left) and running back Michael Turner lead Atlanta's offense.
No less an authority than Hub Arkush, editor/publisher of Pro Football Weekly and longtime Bears radio analyst, calls it his Lock of the Week: The Atlanta Falcons will beat the Bears handily on Sunday night, their potent offense -- led by Matt Ryan and Michael Turner -- posing too many problems for Lovie Smith's suspect defense.
The Falcons are three-point favorites, playing at home in their dome and fresh off an impressive 45-10 rout of the 49ers at San Francisco. If the underdog Bears were to win, it would be quite an accomplishment, a victory that could stamp them as genuine Super Bowl contenders. But, what exactly will it take to get the job done?
There's a nagging suspicion that the Bears' defense is ripe to be exposed, and that the Falcons are the kind of team that could embarrass them. As we know, the Bears easily could be 1-3 instead of 3-1 if the Steelers and Seahawks had converted makable field-goal attempts. And the Lions moved the ball up and down the field with a rookie QB at the helm for much of their game two weeks ago until the Bears stiffened in the second half.
So Jay Cutler, come on down! National-TV spotlight, underdog role, tough road environment, and the game figures to be a high-scoring shootout. At least, it probably will need to be if the Bears are to win, because the Falcons' offense has been clicking on all cylinders. Putting pressure on Ryan will be they key: The Bears' defense ranks fourth in the NFL in sacks with 14, but the Falcons' pass protection has yielded only two sacks. If given sufficient time, Ryan (career-high 329 passing yards last Sunday) should scorch the Bears' shaky secondary.Will this be the game that Cutler cuts loose? If the Bears fall behind early, will Ron Turner shift the passing game into high gear? Unless the Bears' defense can force turnovers, it's likely Cutler will need to light up the scoreboard to keep his team in the game,
I'm going with the Falcons, 34-27. What say you? Post your prediction here, anytime between now and kickoff on Sunday.
Im going with Falcons 24, Bears 21...
Be sure to check out the rest of TheCoach's picks for all NFL games (url above)
How can the Bears defense possibly be anymore exposed than it has
been already? It's the adjustments that they are making that have
been the difference. I think the packers offense is better than the Falcons. It's the falcons who could easily be 1-3, had they had a tougher schedule. We beat up the packers pretty bad on both sides of the ball. Atlanta's defense is not all that good. The Bears 'O' should
continue to grow...I wouldn't be surprised if this game was lopsided
in the Bears favor. I think it's time for our special teams to take over a game.....blocked kicks, forced fumble...make the Falcons humble. Ryan is way over rated...almost as much as Tom Brady.
Despite my overall criticism of the Bears D for most of the season so far, I actually think they might surprise in this game. Some guys are healthy again like Tinoisamoa which should help and the team will have had 2 weeks to prepare for this game, but no, I'm not saying they'll shut down Matt Ryan and co. I think the game will be close, but not quite the 30 pt+ shootout that Stu is basically predicting. However, I still like the Falcons 24-21. Why do the Falcons get to play the Bears at their house 2 years in a row anyway? That's crap.
If Turner keeps it conservative (and boring) the Bears lose this game.
You have Jay Cutler, two very fast wide outs and a TE that can run with anyone.
Go down field already because this whole "play not to lose" routine played out years ago with Dick Jauron.
I am so tired of this attempt to play it safe and hope for a break to go your way in the 2nd half. You are playing indoors on a fast playing field.
Use it!
Falcons 30 Bears 20
Let's all just let our teams do the talking on the field. Go Falcons!
I hate it when they put the Bears on at night. I watch the postgame shows and that means midnight and beyond.
It is very likely the Bears will lose this one. While we are busy pointing fingers and poking holes in Orton's 5-0 start, we need to be looking at our own situation. (quit hating chicago) As Stu said we could easily be 1-3. I want the BEARS to WIN, but wishing on it doesn't make it happen. Our offensive line is suspect and that is the key to our entire team. We don't know which Bears team will show up Sunday the 3-1 team or the 1-3 team. I hope the 3-1 team shows up.
On a good note, this kind of game is hand crafted for Lovie Smith. We are well rested, have no distractions on the road and are prepared and focussed. Lovie is going to go right into that black and blue division playbook and milk that clock so that Atlanta does not have the ball. This game stays within one score because thats the way Lovie will coach it! Its going to be on the O-line and Cutler's shoulders to bring it home. Special teams is going to be ready. We steal this game and we will not look back the rest of the season. We are not favored, but we can do it!!! Go BEARS!! RIP AND TEAR FEATHERS!!!!!!
Lifetime Bears fan- (former-35 years-Broncos fan. I can't root for them after seeing how they treated Cutler).
CUTLER CAN DO IT. I HAVE SEEN HIM DO IT at Denver many times> (9 comebacks in 40 full games).
Hate to say this. They-Atlanta- will be up by 21 at half. Our run game is nonexistent. The O-line's protection of Cutler is 8 sacks with 3 step drops-and 7 yard passes.
Turner is your protection of Cutler so bad that you can't roll him out safely or go to a seven step drop?
Unless the Bears have been practicing- heavily- the scramble drill -it will be worse than Green Bay.
Atlanta has only given up 3 passing touchdowns- that's awesome since they have been ahead most of the games.
On Monday Chicago will either call Cutler a bust or a hero- neither is accurate.
A win would go along way to prove to the general public that this team is for real.
Last year's loss in Atlanta was horrible. I don't think the Bears really recovered after that game. If the Bears don't come into this game jacked up and ready for some PAYBACK I will be very disappointed.
Stop the run, put pressure on Matt Ryan, and keep up the offensive barrage.
I may be drinking my Bears kool-aid a bit too much but I see the Bears winning.
Forte has 2 TDs (one rushing, one receiving) and the Bears win 30-27.
The Bears defense will be exposed?
I'm guessing the Falcons defense will be exposed!
Detroit ripped the Bears in the first half because Lovie threw the pressure at Stafford, as he'd done the previous games, and the Lions threw quick, early and often, with some excellent play calling. When Lovie went to a straight 4 man rush in the second half, the rookie hadn't those quick open lanes he had to throw to in the first half and, well, you saw the result.
You throw 50 times against the Bears, I guarantee you're in the game. no matter you're the Rams, or the Eagles. Atlanta is no such creature. We play exceptionally well against teams that have a balanced attack. That's just the way it is, funny as it may sound. The Falcons 'O' vs. the Bears 'D' is no greater than the Bears 'O' vs. the Falcon 'D'. That leaves the game on three main hinges;
1) Home field advantage: We had them last year and I believe we'll be there again. Cutler and the Bears are getting sharper every week, and if we can hold Abraham, Jay should have no problem controlling the ball, a big factor in beating the Falcons anywhere.
2) Special teams: 'Nuf said!
3) Turnovers: This game, on paper, should be close, but if the Bears can overcome the early energy of an Atlanta team playing in primetime, and we win the turnover battle, the 3 point spread will be just what it is.
Bears-27 Atlanta-24
Lovie had 2 weeks to prepare for this game, a bonus, plus he knows the importance this game will give his club in terms of closing the gap among the, so-called, elite, and he can't afford to lose any more ground to the Vikes, or the conference.
Go Bears!!!
i think atlanta is not as good people are giving them credit. didn't they only score 10 against a struggling n.e defense on a nice day up in mass. our o line has been protecting cutler beter each game and giving him a hell of a lot time to make plays. our secondary is the key in this game. peanut covering white and whoever has to cover gonzalez have to step up and shut them boys down.it should be a great game and i think the bears win by 10.
BEARS 40, Chikens 33. Cutler is gonna torch their d-backs, opening up Forte. D loves to be the underdogs, watch for them to step up this game and get the turnovers.
The Bears might not win another game until Dec 6th...maybe November 1st....but wow...here comes the season... followed by the I told ya so's I promised, boys
You Jeff Reed/Olinde Mare fan clubbers
Steelers with no Palamalu and hadn't figured out Mendenhall is better...Seattle with no QB and an injury report for 3 teams....and even Culpepper sitting....Lucky,Lucky,Lucky......
Bubblegum and paperclips, fast surface, and Abraham (Not Gary Coleman's gold fish)
These Superbowl Contenders you speak of won't be in the playoffs, so good luck with that one...
Falcons 42 Bears 17
Being a Bears fan NOW is beginning to require a different mindset, one we may have never seen. Our team looks foreign, both to us as fans and to professional league observers. We pass on 3rd and short, struggle to advance the line of scrimmage, have a dynamic QB that can throw it a mile, receivers by committee, and no Brian Urlacher or Mike Brown. The only thing familiar so far this year is the dominance of Special Teams. So what did that little rant have to do with my prediction?? It's hard to predict a Bears game when we don't know what this team is capable of doing. We don't know what this team is capable of doing because its attributes are unlike any Bears team we have seen, maybe ever. So what is there to fall back on? The faith that bonds all Bears fans. Bears 31 Falcons 24.
Lovie's pretty good when he has a long time to prepare, so I think that will keep it close.
Still, unless the Bears can harass Ryan like they did Roethlisberger and Rodgers, it will be a long Sunday night.
I'm thinking they are not going to get to Ryan as much.
Falcons 27-Bears 14.
The Bears are rested, healthy, and motivated (everyone is picking against them, plus they lost a close one last year). Cutler knows he can win there (only QB to win in Atlanta in the last two years). The falcons have not really played a team as aggressive defensively as the Bears are. If the Bears stop the run, and pressure Ryan, they will get some picks and some sacks. I expect a big game offensively from the Bears. Their run game will be overlooked, just as Forte is getting rolling, and Cutler will hit some big ones to Hester or Knox. Plus the Bears have the best special teams is football. It will be a good game, but the Bears finally earn some real respect.
What a JOKE!! Everyone picking Atlanta to win My pick
Bears 42 Falcons 17 This will be an EPIC a$$ wooping and will finaly shut most of you up GO BEARS!!
Most of you need to find realty BEARS 42 FALCONS 17 I also bet Falcons QB leaves game with injury
The Falcons are no different than the team we played last year, while the Bears are much improved. Their fans are posers compared to the other hostile environments the Bears have played in (Lambeau, Qwest) so far this season alone.
They're going to get tea-bagged. Look for Bears D to force a fumble and a pick, register a defensive TD, and for Hester to take his first punt all the way since 2007.
The Bears are back, but they're bigger, meaner, and they have a helluva QB under center.
As always, go Bears.
Bears 31, Falcons 17.
My biggest question is, why do we have to play this team two years in a row on their home turf? That doesn't seem right.
I hope the Bears pluck their feathers.
Go Bears!
Matt Ryan is over rated, huh? Very interesting take. How bout posting matt Ryan is over rated again on Monday, stuck in wisconsin. The falcons are gonna treat the bears just like southern teams treat the big 10. Atlanta 27 bears 16
If you pick any game for this year that we needed to avenge a loss it was this one. If coach Smith actually had a game circled that he wanted extra motivation for it's this one. That said, this game is Turner's potential Waterloo. Two weeks to prepare. A chance for the first time this year to have Cutler come alive in the first quarter and not just stumble around until the 2nd quarter which has been our standard so far. If we put Tillman on their best receiver before he's able to get 100 yards we won't have a game anywhere as close as the Detriot game was early on. Marinelli will motivate our line and we will do well the rest of the way. Keith, you said that the offensive line was suspect even in pre-season and I won't doubt you again after seeing before we believed. Take whoever sucks off the line early or let them know that they will have to play better and we might just make a game of it. I'm going to say 30-24 Bears and hope that the score won't flip flop the other way.
Chicago Falconry has been suspended this week after a Bufalo Grove Man took a shotgun to his partner in the sport...Aristotle the Falcon.. was gunned down by his owner this afternoon at a Naperville tournament....Mark Villano, the Falcons Owner could be heard screaming, "2 Years in AROW!!"...as they carted him off into the Wagon...
NOw, I can dig that...go bears
Ever been to Georgia? Only outhouses,cathouses,and Wafflehouses'. Boiled peanuts? SUCK! Krystal?SUCKs!!!! Chick-a-filet? Sucks! Home Depot? Sucks! Arthur Blank? Sucks! Falcons? Suck! Matt Ryan? SUCKS!
there, I think I phrased it better this time Falconeddy. Since you won't be around on Monday (Klan meeting...I guess.).
oh...and in case you want to be clever...I will post your response, since I will undoubtedly agree. Culvers? SUCKS! Packers? SUCK! Miller? SUCKS! .....I think that is all we have to offer up here.
White Castle? RULES! Bears? RULE! Brown's chicken? RULES!Jay Cutler? RULES!!
understand????
Bears 120 Falcons 3
The Bears are going to Tear Matt Ryan Limb from Limb and rip the Falcons into small little baby bird size nibblets.
Bears 29 - Dirty Birds - 14
lol, put Ryan under pressure. He's statistically the 2nd best QB when opposing teams blitz and he scorched the Bears last season with over 300 yards in his rookie season. Now he has Gonzo and a full season experience. Our defense may not be the best but it actually the quickest defense in the league. Shutting down Hester and Knox should be no issue. Last but not least special teams huh? The Falcons have given up the fewest yards on punt returns since 08, good luck on that. Get ready for a ass whooping bears fans.
...at least Monday Night will be a good game
Rivers/Orton
Main reason to watch man~an~a...Marty Booker has caught one ball in each game for Atlanta....14.8 yards a clip...0 TD's?.....Our Marty Booker is Due, Jerry....and.................... you're a bedwetter
Michael Turner...from ""North Chicago High freaking School!!"" and ""NIU!!""...you know, the guy who has been bouncing around Angelo since he was 15 years old...
well, he's the RB for the other team...
He's like 25 lbs heavier and faster than the one we got...
I mean, this kid was doing the freaking Superbowl mfn Shuffle in 2nd grade.....not sure what I mean by that and I could be just planting evidence..but I'm right
doesn't sound too good when I put it that way...so let's review..
Worste case scenerio...Marty Booker and Michael Turner have big games tomorrow
Gaines Adams was mildly impressive, tho...surprised nobody spoke on Angelo's behalf on that one...
Hitman, now THAT's a post! Please keep it up...although I'm not sure how Mark feels about it.
By the way, I think that's the first time you've given me any indication that you're a Bears fan! Keep that up too!
Atlanta's balanced attack will expose the Bears D in a major way. Roddy White and Gonzalez should have a big game against Bears D backs and LBs, softening the D for Turner's run game.
For the Bears, I'd love to see the Bears use the off week to their advantage and post points early with a hurry-up offense to open the game. Oh wait...Turner is the offensive coordinator, so not much hope of anything creative!
I see this turning into a track meet. If it were a Sunday afternoon game at Soldier Field, I'd give the edge to the Bears. Prime time in Atlanta, it'll be Birds 42 - Bears 38.
BallinonChinz seyz,
"the falcons have given up fewest punt return yards since 08."...........You do know that 08 was as recently as last year......right? I guess when you are the falcons, you don't have much
good history to look back on. I guess your seasons are sooooo....long...that when referring to last season you use the words
like 'since'.
I can be as ridiculous as you too: I used to drink. I still do, but... I used to, too. This is the best single malt I had SINCE last night.
Thank you, Gig...Mark won't mind...not as long as the Raiders still have games ahead of them
and Stuck, would you have a conversation with any of Ned Beatty's new found friends along the river? Ballinonchinz?...Burnt Vasoline?...Banjos?...The Killer B's?
that'd better be some good Scotch, Stuck..
Happy Sunday Everyone
Strike a match to that Cohiba, Hitman ... Da Raiders beat da Eagles!!!
Fly high my friend.
Can we officially do away with the notion Kreutz is a top flight center? Every time we run the ball he gets pushed back 3 yards
Now it's time to smoke a cigar...
I've never seen a team so lucky and undeserving as this years Bears...hopefully, the end of tonights game signifies the return to reality...
Our O-Line looks awful out there. Totally out played, Cutler had no time to throw.
We still were in the game till the end.
If were not one of the top 2-3 teams in the NFC...nobody is.
TOMMY!!! I've been saying that about Kreutz for two-and-a-half seasons now! He's running on reputation alone! Thank you!
Lovie Smith says "The Bears come off the bus running." Really Lovie? It looks more to me like the Bears are stumbling on the bus steps and falling flat on their faces. WE HAVE NO RUN BLOCKING! Get Frank Omiyale out of there. He is a poor excuse for a guard. Find someone to replace the obviously aging Pace during the offseason. Replace Olin "I'm a Hall of Famer and untouchable because by golly my reputation blinds Bears' fans and management" Kreutz. Keep Garza and hopefully Chris Williams will be able to replace Pace on the left side next year and we can find someone on the right. Oh, by the way, Matt Forte is not the only reason we can't run the ball, but he is not showing me that he has any ability whatsoever to overcome a bad run blocking line. Oh, by the way, while Jay Cutler became a gunslinger, he kind of had to sling the ball because of this pathetic running game. It's a wonder he almost pulled it off regardless!
Nice job also by the the special teams to allow a 62-yard return just after tying the game...timely. 12 men on the field? Stupid!
Nick Roach cost the Bears a drive and a touchdown with an inexperienced play call and totally blown coverage on Tony Gonzalez.
Our defensive tackles have no penetration whatsoever.
They looked like a friggin' high school team out there. That performance was embarrassing. Two weeks to prepare and they look like that...that's just unforgivable.
The Bears played like who we thought they were:
A Lovie Smith coached Team.
That means sticking with the overmatched and outdated "Lovie the Loser" Tampa 2 scheme, confusion in play calling and poor tackling on Defense, no adjustments at Half Time and maybe the worst Offensive Play Calling in the league.
Two weeks to prepare and this is the result.
Sandlot plays would be more effective than anything Ron Turner can come up with.
Bill Belichek, Mike Tomlin, Tom Coughlin and others could take this Bear Team to the Super Bowl.
Lovie can only bring them down to his level and drive them to the bottom of the NFC North. HE IS A LOSER!!!!! And nothing is going to change that!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get ready to laugh next week when Benson drops a 100 on them.
Bear's Brass, please fire Lovie now while there is still time to get Cowher or Shanahan!!!!
Gig - part of the issue is the beat writers like Mully, etc who still sing Kreutz' praises...maybe they're afraid he'll pull a Fred Miller on them. One of worst run blocking centers in the league.
I can't get on Roach too much as he's a 3rd teamer...also can't get on special teams expect for the 12 men on field. Like isn't it pretty much the same 11 guys each time???
I didn't expect them to win against a pretty good team who spanked the Cardinals on the road last week. Expect 40+ throws per game by Cutler with this O line mess.