Bears – Falcons
Time: 4:25 ET
Spread: ATL -3
Total: 54.5
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The Chicago Bears have had things go about as well as expected. Most NFL pundits predicted about an eight win season for Chicago, and thus far the club is 2-3. Entering this week’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, NFL oddsmakers set the line 3-points in favor of the hosting Falcons.
The Bears have been weak offensively. The pass ranks 14th in the NFL with 246.2 yards per game, but Matt Forte has been unable to sustain the rush for Chicago, with the team ranking 22nd in yardage at 102.4 per game. The defense has been middle of the road, but the Bears are a team that should be generating more points than this.
In the last two weeks, the Bears have averaged just 20.5 points per contest, while surrendering 34.5 per game. Last week, the Carolina Panthers prevailed 31-24, despite the Bears amassing more yardage in the game. The Panthers had just three penalties for thirty yards, while penalties cost the Bears 80. Jay Cutler also threw two interceptions and the Bears fumbled on two other occasions. Keeping turnovers down is imperative if the Bears are to win any type of underdog performance this week.
The Atlanta Falcons have been devastating teams using its pass offense. The Falcons rank No. 2 in the NFL in passing yardage at 319.2 per game, but Atlanta hasn’t been able to outscore its horrible defense. Despite averaging 22 points in the last two weeks, the defense surrendered 35.5 per game. The Falcons destroyed Tampa Bay in week 3, but have been searching for answers ever since.
The Falcons have benefitted from the strength of Matt Ryan’s arm. He’s thrown 66 percent for completion while massing 1,579 yards this season, but he has thrown six INTs and been sacked six times. His QB rating is 96.4, despite having three receivers with 200 yards or more and Julio Jones already having caught 552 yards and three TDs.
No running back for Atlanta has experienced much success. Steven Jackson has rushed 63 times, but is sporting just a 3.8 yard per carry average. Antone Smith has been better in limited carries, but he’s seen just 11 of those. While Jacquizz Rodgers and Devonta Freeman carry promise, they too have done little to show it in limited carries (19 a piece).
Devin Hester is injured, but the Falcons have the receivers to compensate. It is just a matter of getting something out of the backfield and playing much better defense. Against a weak Bears team, this could be just the week to get its mojo back.
