Joe's Gameday Preview: Bears at Falcons

After a well-needed bye week, the Chicago Bears are back in action tonight, heading to the Georgia Dome to take on Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons. Coming off a 45-10 beatdown of the San Francisco 49ers, the Falcons could not be flying higher. After a heart-breaking loss in Atlanta last season, the Bears are ready for some payback. 

In order to suppress the Falcons improving offense, Tommie Harris MUST get pressure up the middle. Not only to hurry quarterback Matt Ryan but to disrupt Michael Turner and Atlanta’s running game. Harris has not been healthy enough to wreak his typical havoc, but the extra week of rest should make for a better performance.

Chicago also welcomes a newcomer to its defensive front this week. GM Jerry Angelo traded a second-round pick in 2010 for under-performing defensive end Gaines Adams from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Adams should see the field tonight, backed by defensive line coach Rod Marinelli’s excellent tutelage. With Adams, Alex Brown, Adewale Ogunleye and Mark Anderson sharing time at the position, Chicago should never be short of fresh defensive ends.

With Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez on the field along with Turner, the Falcons have explosive weapons on the offensive side of the ball. Getting to Ryan early and often will be paramount. Zack Bowman have better speed than Charles Tillman, so he should be opposite White for most of the game unless he struggles. Gonzalez might have been the best pick-up of the offseason, so don't be surprised if he has a big day against a linebacking corps missing Brian Urlacher and Hunter Hillenmeyer. 

Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa is listed as questionable for tonight’s game, but fully participated in practice all week. Hillenmeyer is expected to miss the game with his injured ribs, and DT Israel Idonije is questionable as well with a knee issue. Devin Hester and Johnny Knox were not even listed on the injury report, so expect to see Chicago’s two burners on the outside for Jay Cutler. 

Speaking of Franchise Jay, it may be time to see an aerial assault from the Chicago Bears. Atlanta has the 10^th best pass defense in the league, letting opposing quarterbacks complete only fifty-seven percent of their passes. However, Cutler was the only quarterback to win at the Georgia Dome last season when he helmed the Denver Broncos. With the right play-calling, Cutler can expose the Atlanta secondary for some big plays.  

However, Jay can’t do that without an effective running game. Matt Forte should be able to find enough holes in the 15^th ranked rush defense to set up the play-action pass. If Chicago can’t force Atlanta to respect the run or bring an eighth man in the box, the downfield attack won’t be as easy to manage. Protecting Cutler from sack-specialist John Abraham will be a difficult task, prompting some tight end or running back help for most of the afternoon.

 Receivers Hester, Knox and Earl Bennett will see plenty of throws from Cutler, but Greg Olsen is the key to tonight’s match-up. He can take advantage of the Falcon’s linebackers and/or safeties, forcing coverage his way. That will free up the receivers on the outside.  

Have fun watching the game tonight, if it’s anything like last year it should be one to remember!