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Week 6 Preview: Bears at Falcons
Chicago Bears (2-3) at Atlanta Falcons (2-3)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, at Georgia Dome, Atlanta – TV: FOX
*TV announcers: Justin Kutcher, David Diehl, Laura Okmin
*Keys to the game: High-scoring affairs are the norm for Atlanta, as would be expected for a team with the 29th-ranked defense. QB Matt Ryan remains effective from the pocket (8.0 yards per attempt, 11 touchdowns) with five receivers tallying at least 12 catches through the first five games. WR Julio Jones has been targeted more than 11 times per game, averaging eight receptions and 110.4 yards. Rookie CB Kyle Fuller plays physical, but is not a match one-on-one for Jones, and the Bears don’t have an ideal shadow for WR Roddy White. They’re even less equipped at nickel, where Isaiah Frey was released.
Bears QB Jay Cutler found himself on the move in last week’s second-half collapse and while he leads the NFC with 12 touchdown passes, his inability to cope with pressure and deliver when the pocket bursts contributed in all three losses this season. RB Matt Forte could bust loose given Atlanta’s woes against the run – 147 yards per game and 10 rushing TDs allowed – but offensive line play remains a concern under the weight of more injuries. Atlanta’s best chance is to roll the dice with blitz packages and get the ball out of Cutler’s hands quickly before a suspect defense becomes a defenseless target.
*Matchup to watch – Bears defensive line vs. Falcons offensive line: Chicago invested early and often in defensive improvements, including lucrative free agent deals for DEs Lamarr Houston and Jared Allen, who have combined for zero sacks.
*Player spotlight – Falcons RB Antone Smith: Playmakers at every turn has made touches hard to come by for Smith, but another score last week, he has 277 yards and four touchdowns on 17 touches (16.3-yard average), all but forces the Falcons to acknowledge he’s ready for more work in a mix-and-match backfield.
*Fast facts: Ryan has a 142.2 rating at home this season and is 38-10 at Georgia Dome in his career. … The Bears averaged 31.8 points in eight victories last season and are scoring 23.2 per game in 2014.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Ryan is unstoppable at home and even with a turnstile defense gets the Falcons to .500.
*Our pick: Falcons 33-26
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