Previewing Chicago Bears' Week 1 Matchup with the Atlanta Falcons
The Chicago Bears don't have it easy to start the 2017 NFL season.
Optimism for a step in the right direction surrounds the Bears after an eventful offseason, but even start-of-season hype has a hard time overshadowing the fact Chicago has to welcome Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons to Soldier Field on Sunday.
It's a tall task to take on a Super Bowl participant known for its passing attack when the Chicago defense already has a few notable injury problems. Compounding the issue is the Bears trying to break in a new starter under center with a new-look cast of weapons surrounding him.
All of which isn't to say the Bears don't stand a chance. Head coach John Fox and his revamped roster continue to fly under the radar, they are the hosts and Week 1 can create all sorts of problems for offenses trying to get on the same page—even one led by an MVP candidate.
Before this one gets underway on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, let's outline a preview.
Injury Report
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Bears
LB Pernell McPhee: Questionable
WR Markus Wheaton: Questionable
Falcons
N/A
There are no big surprises here for either side here. The Bears activated Pernell McPhee off the physically unable to perform list, though he'll be out for an unknown extent still. Markus Wheaton still has a few weeks left as he fights his way back from an issue. Not listed is No. 1 corner Prince Amukamara, who has been battling an ankle injury.
Atlanta has been much more fortunate as of late when it comes to injuries. Running back Devonta Freeman cleared concussion protocol, meaning the team has its dangerous one-two punch ready to go for the date in Chicago.
Injury reports via ESPN.com.
Matchups to Watch
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Chicago's New-Look Secondary vs. Falcons WRs
Amukamara or not, Chicago seems ready to trot out a completely revamped secondary in front of fans on Sunday for what looks like the ultimate trial by fire.
New arrival Quintin Demps has played as advertised right out of the gates this preseason. Thanks to stellar play next to him, fans can expect to see plenty of rookie Eddie Jackson.
At corner, new arrival Marcus Cooper will see some work, and Kyle Fuller—who has seemingly gotten it all back together this preseason—will see plenty of snaps.
The task almost seems impossible: Defend Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu and even Taylor Gabriel deep, while also accounting for tight end Austin Hooper and the duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman out of the backfield.
While this job won't only fall to the defensive backs, the new guys are firmly under the microscope and need to avoid giving up chunk plays as the team did a year ago.
Bears WRs vs. Atlanta's DBs
The opposite applies here.
And yes, Chicago's wideouts would have received a nod here even without the season-ending injury to Cameron Meredith, though it makes the outlook for the unit even more dire.
The Bears need somebody to step up. Kevin White still seems behind schedule and Wheaton joins Meredith on the no-go list. Kendall Wright might turn out to be Chicago's best wideout this year, but if he can't create separation over the weekend, his team will have a hard time winning this.
Atlanta has the corners necessary to play aggressive, too, with Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford more than up to the task. At the least, it gives a downtrodden crop of wideouts a chance to make a statement.
Chicago's Offensive Line vs. Atlanta's Front Seven
It should go without saying, but any opposing offensive line needs a big day to avoid getting run over by Atlanta.
If names in the trenches such as Courtney Upshaw and Grady Jarrett don't wreak havoc, an upright presence like Vic Beasley will.
It doesn't help that the Bears don't know if Kyle Long can play. If not, Cody Whitehair has to shift to guard and Hroniss Grasu gets the nod at center, which didn't work too well during the preseason.
Both tackles, Bobby Massie and Charles Leno Jr., still have plenty to prove as well after up-and-down performances a year ago.
X-Factors
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Leonard Floyd
Chicago's breakout rookie star—one of them, anyway—needs to have a big game if this one is going to be close.
Leonard Floyd put on a show last year, flirting with the double-digit sack mark despite missing time. He's heavier this year, presumably better in coverage and ready to get back after quarterbacks.
Should Floyd have a big game as expected, he has the ability to fluster the timing of the Atlanta passing attack and make sure the aforementioned defensive backs don't spend too long exposed in coverage.
Without McPhee on the other side, though, Atlanta will throw everything it has at Floyd.
Devonta Freeman
In a way, Freeman is an X-factor for both teams.
Atlanta doesn't need him to carry the load out of the backfield, but it beats hoping a change-of-pace option like Tevin Coleman can do it on his own.
Chicago, obviously, evens the playing field a bit if it can slow Freeman to a halt and force Ryan to the air in a hostile environment. Granted, the quarterback threw 38 touchdowns against seven interceptions last year, but at least the Bears will know what's coming if Freeman struggles.
Jordan Howard
Barring a surprise from White or tight ends such as Zach Miller and Adam Shaheen, Chicago's offense is going to look quite a bit like it did last year—Howard or bust.
Howard had some massive games last year despite a miserable passing game around him, hence getting to 1,313 yards on a 5.2 per-carry average with six touchdowns.
But Howard isn't catching anyone off guard this year. The quarterback play is better this year, but he might need to do most of the heavy lifting himself against the Falcons.
If the team falls behind, there's only so much he can do, so a strong performance regardless as least gives the team a chance.
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Latest News and Rumors
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Bears Aren't Confident About Long
The Bears really need a player and leader like Long on the field with the Falcons in town. With Eric Kush lost for the year, the mentioned ripple effect on the line if Long can't go creates major problems.
This line from Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times doesn't paint the situation in a good light: "The Bears are more hopeful than expectant that Long will start against the Falcons."
Much can change between now and Sunday, but the hurdle-filled recovery for Long on his way back from an ankle injury sounds like it will continue.
Fox Keeps Mum on Trubisky
By now, fans understand this is Mike Glennon's team for the foreseeable future, with rookie Mitchell Trubisky regulated to the bench.
But in what capacity?
As WGN Radio's Adam Hoge pointed out, Fox won't commit to a backup: "John Fox says the Bears haven't decided who their backup quarterback is yet. Glennon is the starter."
Fans will want the main backup to be Trubisky, but if the coaching staff is going overboard protecting him from exposure, the nod goes to Mark Sanchez for now.
McPhee Hype
"I'd say he's probably—in the words of our orthopedic, our trainer, our strength, and conditioning coach Jason George—probably in the best shape he's ever been in," Fox said, per ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson. "So we felt very confident just watching him move around today. We felt good about that."
The above, understandably, will create droves of hype in the minds of some; for others, a roll of the eyes.
McPhee's tenure in Chicago has been marred by injuries, hence missing two games in 2015 and seven a year ago with all of 10 total sacks. If Fox's hype is real and he can take the field on Sunday, it changes things in a big way. If.
Fantasy Spotlight
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Star to Know: Jordan Howard
What else needs said?
Alongside Ezekiel Elliott, Howard was one of last year's breakout surprises during a renissance of sorts for fantasy running backs.
Howard has a good chance at extending the trend into 2017 against the Falcons, both because he'll be tasked with doing most of the damage on his own and because Atlanta ranked among the 10 worst teams against opposing fantasy rushers last year.
There is always a chance the Falcons pull way ahead and Chicago can do nothing but pass, eliminating Howard's touches. But it is a risk fantasy owners will need to take on one of the week's biggest potential stars.
Sleeper to Know: Zach Miller
Bears fans know Zach Miller has fallen under the radar a bit.
Once a potential cut candidate after the team added Dion Sims and Adam Shaheen, now it is clear he'll see plenty of chances and is suddenly one of the top passing options on the team.
Owners, too, have ignored Miller, hence him not even appearing on an average draft position chart (ADP) spanning 15 rounds in a standard 12-team league.
With nine touchdowns over his past two campaigns despite injuries and improved quarterback play in what could turn into a pass-heavy affair, owners have to at least consider rostering Miller for the weekend.
All scoring info, points-against info and ownership stats courtesy of Yahoo standard leagues. ADP courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator.
Prediction
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As one can probably tell from the somber tone, the Bears are going to have a hard time winning this one.
Fans will at least find the game more entertaining than most of last year. Howard is back, quarterback play should see an improvement and new faces on both sides of the ball mean a more interesting and competitive product.
But beating a Super Bowl participant is a tall order. Floyd will likely team with Akiem Hicks to cause some problems, but it's a war of attrition against a quarterback who can spread a defense out and pick them apart. Again, Ryan threw seven interceptions last year. All. Season. Long.
If Ryan isn't turning the ball over, Glennon doesn't have the arm or weapons around him to keep pace in a track meet. Both teams might start slow, but the Falcons will hit full stride long before a still-meshing, remade Bears team discovers what the possible length of the stride even is.
Prediction: Falcons 34, Bears 17
All contract information courtesy of Spotrac unless otherwise specified. Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
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