Chicago Bears Insider: Bears Versus Falcons Preview

The first game of the season will be a tough one for the Bears as they face last year’s winner of the NFC South, the Atlanta Falcons.  It’s been said by some that Atlanta gained the final pieces of their Super Bowl puzzle and should be able to make the big game a reality this year.  The Bears will definitely have their work cut out for them in this game as they try to stop what will end up being a tough passing offense by the Falcons.

So how can the Bears beat the Falcons?  Can they beat the Falcons?  Will the Bears get a good start to the 2011 or will they begin the season with a loss?

Let’s find out as we take a look at the Bears versus the Falcons in our game preview.

When the Bears have the Ball

Depending on the field conditions and the weather (right now they are saying that there is a chance of rain for this game), the Bears may choose to open up with the running game and then work in some short passes to help move the ball down the field.  Expect offensive coordinator Mike Martz to get Matt Forte involved in the offensive early while Cutler and his wide receivers find their rhythm.

Of course the offensive line is going to have to be ready and willing to block in this game and while they have done a decent job in the running game, they have had their struggles blocking pass blocking.  The Bears hope that their pass protection is much better than it was last year, not only to help move the ball down the field but also to keep Cutler upright and healthy.

We have heard a lot about Roy Williams and how he struggled during the preseason, but he has to produce and it needs to happen quickly.  Or else the Bear’s passing game will suffer. 

When the Falcons have the Ball

Atlanta has a solid running back in Michael Turner and the Bears will need to make sure that they stop him early on and force the Falcons to throw the ball.  The only problem with that is that Atlanta has a pretty potent passing offense. Throwing the ball has been successful for them in the past and it should be again this year.  With receivers like Roddy White and Julio Jones, Chicago’s defense is going to have their work cut out for them.

Pass pressure will be the key for the defense in this game and if they can get to quarterback Matt Ryan, then they have a good shot at throwing him off of his rhythm and causing problems.

The cornerbacks for the Bears have had their struggles, so the pass rush will be important.  The safety position is also somewhat suspect and there may be a little bit of an adjustment period for them in this game.  Let’s just hope that it’s not a big adjustment.

The linebackers are going to have to provide run support as well as help cover tight end Tony Gonzalez, who will be targeted often.  There shouldn’t be any worries with this group.

Special Teams

The new kickoff rule is going to hamper long returns on both sides, but with Devin Hester returning punts, anything is possible.  But will the Falcons actually kick to Hester?  Both kickers are pretty much spot on, so if it comes down to a field goal to win this game both teams will be in good shape.

Coaching

Both head coaches have a lot of experience in the NFL, but Smith is known for being a little more conservative (perhaps when it isn’t a good idea) and then a risk taker at the wrong time.  Mike Smith is a solid coach and knows how to get his team to win.

Analysis

This game will probably be a little bit more sloppy than a typical first game of the year when compared to the last few seasons, due to the lockout.  Players were robbed of the chance to have organized offseason workouts, so some players may still not be in football shape or in that football frame of mind when this game kicks off.

So we might see some mistakes and errors in this game.

The Bears have the advantage of playing at home in this game and they have a solid defense, which should be able to make it difficult for the Falcons.  What they defense cannot afford to do is to allow the Falcons to run the tables through the air.  This would be a detriment to their chances of winning this game.  The pass rush needs to be strong and the cornerbacks need to cover the Falcon’s receivers very well.

One the offensive side of the ball the Bears are going to have to get everyone comfortable in this game, which means that they won’t start out doing a lot of risky things.  Using the running game to move the ball and to control the clock coupled with the short passing game should help Chicago come out of the gates playing well and help their offense along.

Who will Win and Why

The Bears have an excellent chance of winning this game and if they play mistake free football, they will end up beating the Falcons.  Atlanta has traditionally struggled when playing outdoors (the turf restricts the speed that they possess) so the Bears need to take advantage of that.

Chicago will put up a good fight in this game, but the Falcons may just be a little too much for them as an opponent in the first week of the season.  The offense is still suspect and the wide receivers for the Bears will struggle.  If the Bears get into a shootout with the Falcons they may not be able to keep up.

The Bears will lose their first game of the season, but not by much and will learn a lot heading into their game against the Saints next weekend.

Prediction:

Atlanta 24, Chicago 21