Falcons-Bears preview

[bossFALCON™]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/FalconsBears-Preview-70103211

The Chicago Bears' 2010 season ended with a discussion about the legitimacy of Jay Cutler's knee injury.

With two of their best players unhappy with their current contracts, off-the-field distractions continue to dominate the headlines as the team gets set to open 2011.

Running back Matt Forte and unhappy Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs are expected to suit up despite their complaints Sunday when the Bears host the defending NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons.

After winning the North and defeating Seattle in the divisional round of the playoffs, Chicago (11-5) fell 21-14 to Green Bay in the conference title game. Cutler left in the third quarter after suffering a sprained left knee ligament, and several current and former players questioned how badly he was hurt.

Cutler, sacked an NFL-high 52 times in 2010, was taken aback when his toughness was questioned. He's now healthy and enters his third season in Chicago looking to quiet critics and lead Chicago back to the postseason.

Having Forte in the backfield should help. He had 1,616 yards from scrimmage last season and ranks seventh all-time in franchise history with 3,236 rushing yards.

Forte was hoping to sign a long-term deal prior to the start of the season, but general manager Jerry Angelo announced Wednesday that the sides couldn't come to an agreement.

"I'm disappointed (and) kind of frustrated that didn't get done," Forte told the Bears' official website. "As a player, you're taught that this league is based off production and you expect for a team to notice that and to get paid based off your production.

"I was expecting to get paid just like some of the other backs who produced similar to me. That didn't happen, so obviously I've got to continue to play under my regular contract."

Briggs will do the same after his request for a raise was denied, although his agent has filed a formal request to seek a trade. He has three years left on a six-year, $36 million deal.

"The Bears made their decision, now I have to make mine," Briggs told the Chicago Tribune. "It's just how the business works. It's not going to take away from what I do on the field. I'm 100 percent a Bear, until I'm not a Bear anymore."

Briggs will try to make things tougher on Matt Ryan, who is coming off the most productive season of his career. Ryan threw for career highs of 3,705 yards and 28 TDs, leading the Falcons to a conference-best 13-3 record.

Despite the stellar regular season, Atlanta was routed 48-21 by the Packers in the divisional round.

"I understand how the NFL works, and how the fans work too," said Ryan, who is still seeking his first postseason win. "You are judged by what you do in January. You have to embrace that. Hopefully, we'll fully have another opportunity to change that perception."

The Falcons have Roddy White, who caught an NFL-high 115 passes last season, and they moved up 21 spots in the draft to add speedy receiver Julio Jones with the sixth pick.

Atlanta ranked next-to-last in passing plays of at least 20 yards in 2010 - an area that could improve dramatically with Jones joining White.

"You can't get complacent with (the expectations)," Jones told the Falcons' official website. "We're here as a team and we're going to play as a team. It's good to get hype … but at the same time, I'm just a team player and I want to benefit the team."

An improved passing attack could mean a lighter workload for Michael Turner, who piled up 1,371 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns last season.

"Atlanta (has an) experienced offense, experienced defense," Cutler said. "They added some guys in the offseason to make them even better so we've got our hands full ... they're experienced and they play well."

Atlanta has lost five straight in Chicago, with its most recent visit to Soldier Field coming in 2005. The teams last met Oct. 18, 2009, when the Falcons won 21-14 despite 300 yards and two TDs from Cutler.

[birdz4i]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/FalconsBears-Preview-70103211

Atlanta has lost five straight in Chicago, with its most recent visit to Soldier Field coming in 2005. The teams last met Oct. 18, 2009, when the Falcons won 21-14 despite 300 yards and two TDs from Cutler.

this is what concerns me, considering we have a bunch of people saying we will win by double digits. soldier field is a tough place to play.

[Falcon Fantom]

Those stats were a different Falcons team. Those teams never had back-to-back winning seasons. This Falcons team has had three straight.

I have plenty of respect for the Bears. However, I'm over all the bad stats and memories from the pre Smitty/TD era. This team is different in more ways than I can count.

Plus one sir!

Edited September 8, 2011 by Falcon Fantom

[Culpfiction]

this is what concerns me, considering we have a bunch of people saying we will win by double digits. soldier field is a tough place to play.

There will be a little extra energy in the crowd being the season opener, and having Jim Cornelison sing the National Anthem on 9-11.

The guy gets the crowd going like no other.

Edited September 8, 2011 by Culpfiction

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

Anybody that thinks this game is going to be an easy win for the Falcons is delusional. This game is going to be about as tough as our Pittsburgh opener last year. Chicago never loses easy - their games are always close, and this one will be no different. That defense is still top notch, they run the 4-3 better than anybody. That Chicago crowd is going to be fired up and its going to be loud for opening day.

We need to be very careful offensively. Mularkey has had great game plans against them before where we move their LBs sideline to sideline and tire them out. We need to stick with that, then run some Turner, then take some shots downfield in the 3rd quarter.

Cutler is a gunslinger. He can throw a 100 mph fastball to any WR. Just need to penetrate that O Line and not let him get his feet planted.

This game worries me a little. Ive seen us go into games like this before, expecting a win. If we do Win, it wont be easy at all.

Falcons 24

Bears 17

[Falcon Fantom]

Anybody that thinks this game is going to be an easy win for the Falcons is delusional. This game is going to be about as tough as our Pittsburgh opener last year. Chicago never loses easy - their games are always close, and this one will be no different. That defense is still top notch, they run the 4-3 better than anybody. That Chicago crowd is going to be fired up and its going to be loud for opening day.

We need to be very careful offensively. Mularkey has had great game plans against them before where we move their LBs sideline to sideline and tire them out. We need to stick with that, then run some Turner, then take some shots downfield in the 3rd quarter.

Cutler is a gunslinger. He can throw a 100 mph fastball to any WR. Just need to penetrate that O Line and not let him get his feet planted.

This game worries me a little. Ive seen us go into games like this before, expecting a win. If we do Win, it wont be easy at all.

Falcons 24

Bears 17

I can live with that score. I think a lot of fans still are timid about the team though. I think the FALCONS are good enough to beat any team in the league, especially with the roster we have this year.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

I can live with that score. I think a lot of fans still are timid about the team though. I think the FALCONS are good enough to beat any team in the league, especially with the roster we have this year.

That score is if the game goes our way and we win. If the game doesnt go our way, we will lose by that score.

[Culpfiction]

Bears suck

OK. Thanks.

[paulitik]

I always expect it to be a close game, but the Bears OL makes ours look like Dallas's in the 90s after the Herschel trade. The Bears OL got worse, and they have a rookie RT who's head will be spinning. If we have want to blow a team out, this will be a great week to do it. It depends if our Offense is firing on all cylinders.

[Culpfiction]

I always expect it to be a close game, but the Bears OL makes ours look like Dallas's in the 90s after the Herschel trade. The Bears OL got worse, and they have a rookie RT who's head will be spinning. If we have want to blow a team out, this will be a great week to do it. It depends if our Offense is firing on all cylinders.

While the Bears OL is awful, I assure it did not get worse than what we started with last year.

[atlshocker]

Were going to stop the run off top.

Going to make Cutler pass and we all know he loves to throw picks.

Care Bears don't want this Lets go!

Sept.11 Cant get here fast enough!

[The Don™]

There will be a little extra energy in the crowd being the season opener, and having Jim Cornelison sing the National Anthem on 9-11.

The guy gets the crowd going like no other.

http://youtu.be/EqAcfy5G23k

Oh man, I hope this guy isn't the deciding factor for a Bears win...

/casm

[paulitik]

While the Bears OL is awful, I assure it did not get worse than what we started with last year.

You have a practical unknown in JaMarcus Webb starting in his second year in, with a Falcon reject backing him up in Omiyale, who's only proved he's a great baritone in the 7 years he played.

You have Garza, another Falcons reject at Center, replacing Kreutz. Has Garza ever played Center, ever?

You have a LG in Williams, who's okay, and can fill in at LT.

You have a RG who has might have 1 year of experience after doing nothing as a rookie.

And last a RT in Carimi, who has a lot of promise, but had zero offseason OTAs in one of the hardest positions in football to learn.

I'm not saying our line is great, and Center will be an issue, but I don't see any improvement from last year position wise, and I see a huge loss in Kreutz, and Carimi a wash due to a lack of an offseason.

Cutler should be concerned.

[Culpfiction]

You have a practical unknown in JaMarcus Webb starting in his second year in, with a Falcon reject backing him up in Omiyale, who's only proved he's a great baritone in the 7 years he played.

You have Garza, another Falcons reject at Center, replacing Kreutz. Has Garza ever played Center, ever?

You have a LG in Williams, who's okay, and can fill in at LT.

You have a RG who has might have 1 year of experience after doing nothing as a rookie.

And last a RT in Carimi, who has a lot of promise, but had zero offseason OTAs in one of the hardest positions in football to learn.

I'm not saying our line is great, and Center will be an issue, but I don't see any improvement from last year position wise, and I see a huge loss in Kreutz, and Carimi a wash due to a lack of an offseason.

Cutler should be concerned.

I'm not disagreeing with anything you have said. But, they are still better than last year. Not sure they could get worse.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

Our recent wins against the Bears - in our dome - came down to the last minutes. Soldier Field is going to be a more difficult experience, esp. on opening day. That defense is tough and they are going to be fired up, and they run that 4-3 Tampa2 Zone as good as anybody, and Urlacher is still a presence. Briggs is pissed off with his contract so he may go balls-to-the-wall to show Angelo what he is worth. Peppers is going to be on a mission for the first game, he only gets lazy later in the season.

Its going to be a difficult game to win. I dont see the Bears scoring a lot of points. I think we can hold them to under 20 points. If we score 21, we probably win. If not, then we may lose.