This time it counts.
Week 1 of the NFL season kicked off on Thursday night, but things really don’t get started until your team takes the field. With that said, the first game of significance for the Chicago Bears is finally here and we are totally ready for it.
After a 2-2 preseason that featured a strong showing by the first-team defense and flashes of brilliance from rookies like quarterback Mitch Trubisky and running back Tarik Cohen, the Bears open the regular season against the Atlanta Falcons, who would have started the season as the defending Super Bowl champions had the team not coughed up a 28-3 lead.
Instead, they open as the defending NFC champions, which was no small feat.
Not only do the Falcons enter the season as a motivated bunch, they’re crazy talented, too. The offense is led by MVP-winning quarterback Matt Ryan, all-world wide receiver Julio Jones, and a high-octane running back tandem featuring Pro Bowler Devonta Freeman and the ultra-skilled Tevin Coleman. Defensively, it’s a unit that forced the normally sure-handed New England Patriots into two turnovers and sacked Tom Brady five times in the Super Bowl.
Vic Beasley could have a game that begs the question why the Bears passed on choosing him with the seventh pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
All things considered, it’s undoubtedly a tall task to take on, but it’s one a team as hungry as the Bears should be up for … especially on their home turf.
Game Info
Atlanta Falcons (2016: 11-5, 1st NFC South) at Chicago Bears (2016: 3-13, 4th NFC North) – noon CT on FOX-TV (Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis, Pam Oliver), WBBM-AM 780, WCFS-FM 105.9 (Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, Zach Zaidman)
Odds: Falcons (-7), Over/Under 48 via Bovada.lv
Game Thread and Week 1 Preview
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun. And hopefully, we can keep the good times rolling now that the regular season is here.
Your Week 1 Preview lives here.
Coaches
John Fox (128-112 overall, 9-23 with Bears) vs. Dan Quinn (19-13 with Falcons)
Starting Quarterbacks
Bears: Mike Glennon: 4,100 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 59.4 completion percentage, 84.6 rating (21 career games)
versus
Falcons: Matt Ryan: 4,944 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 69.9 completion percentage, 117.1 rating, 83.3 QBR (16 games in 2016)
Bears Expected Offensive Starters
Bears Expected Defensive Starters
Bears Specialists
Falcons Expected Offensive Starters
Falcons Expected Defensive Starters
Falcons Specialists: