The Chicago Bears appeared to be on track to establish their dominance over the archrival Green Bay Packers in Week 5. The Bears had beaten the Packers twice after years of getting dominated, and they had won 3 of their first 4 games even though starting quarterback Caleb Williams was sidelined with a hamstring injury. The Packers were 2-2, and had barely beaten the New York Jets, a team that the Bears had embarrassed.
The experts picked the Bears, even though the game was in Green Bay. However, the Packers dominated from start to finish and punished the visitors 31-7.
The Falcons have established their ability to run the ball. They have the most explosive running back in the league in Bijan Robinson. They are coming off a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and they have plenty of motivation to defend their home field and beat the Bears.
The Bears thought last year's NFC North title was a jumping-off point for this year's team and the goal this season is to be prime contender to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. While that goal remains a possibility, they are already two games behind the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North and there are significant questions on both sides of the ball.
This game against the Falcons is vital for multiple reasons. The Bears want to avoid falling any further behind the Vikings and they would like to avoid a two-game losing streak. They also want to show how well they can play when their QB1 returns to the lineup.
Nothing is official at this point, but Williams has returned to practice and has not had any issues to keep him from playing. A healthy Williams in the lineup gives the Bears a legitimate chance to pick up a much-needed victory.
Williams will play and throw for 250 yards and 2 TD passes
The Bears should be able to get their offense going with the return of their QB1. The reason he will give the Bears a lift is his ability to escape pressure and make plays on the run. His ability to run and get away from pressure have been the keys to his success to this point. He has demonstrated in practice that his running ability is intact. His ability to make plays on the run has separated him from the other young quarterbacks who entered the NFL in the 2024 Draft.
The Bears have three viable receivers in Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and tight end Colston Loveland. None of the three have performed up to expectations at this point.
Odunze is the Bears' leading receiver this season, but the numbers are underwhelming. He has been targeted 29 times by Williams, Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum, and he has 17 receptions for 273 yards but he has yet to find the endzone.
Burden took a major step up last year because of his run after the catch proficiency, and he was supposed to be a coming star. He has caught 23 passes for 266 yards and 1 TD so far this season. Loveland had the look of a first-team All-Pro tight end after leading the Bears in receiving a year ago when he caught 58-713-6. He has not been at the same level this season with 13-110-0.
All three receivers will benefit from the return of Williams. They will also benefit from competing against the Falcons pass defense. Atlanta ranks 27th in passing yards allowed per game as they give up 248.4 yards through the air per game.
Bijan Robinson will torch Bears defense with 150 yards
A week after the Packers punished the Bears through the air with 367 passing yards and 2 TDs, the Falcons are going to attack the Bears with Bijan Robinson, the most explosive running back in the NFL.
Robinson has rushed for 580 yards on 102 carries and he has pounded the ball into the end zone 4 times. He is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and he has already had 6 carries of 20 yards or more with a long of 59 yards. He also gets plenty of support from backup running back Brian Robinson, who has rushed for 210 yards and 4 TDs with an average of 4.1 yards per carry.
The belief is that the Bears don't have the physical capabilities of slowing down Bijan Robinson for 60 minutes. Rookie safety Dillon Thieneman is Chicago's leading tackler with 37 stops with linebacker Devin Bush second in that category with 27 tackles.
As long as the Falcons can establish their running game, that will also make life easier for QB Michael Penix. The Atlanta quarterback took a hard shot to the upper body (ribs/chest) in the late stages of the loss to the Ravens, but he will be able to compete in this game.
Article Continues BelowIf the Falcons line gives him time, he will be able to find wideout Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts with some regularity.
Falcons outscore Bears and emerge with victory
Both teams should be able to move the ball with some regularity, and the Bears will get a lift from the return of Williams. However, he will not be able to steer the Bears into the win column by himself.
The Falcons have more versatility with an explosive running game as well as the accurate passing of Penix. If the Bears could put pressure on Penix and sack him it would be another story, but they struggle badly in that area.
The Falcons will respond with a victory as home underdogs and leave the Bears searching for answers.