Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons Football Odds & NFL Picks
Written October 10, 2008 by Jimmy Boyd
The 3-2 Chicago Bears and the 3-2 Atlanta Falcons meet this Sunday in a battle of teams which have surprised thus far. The Bears have been in every single game this season and could easily be undefeated. They are coming off back-to-back wins over the Eagles and the Lions. The Falcons were thought to be one of the worst teams in the NFL prior to the start of the season, but they are just one win away from reaching their win total from last year. The books must have liked what they saw from Chicago on the road last week and have installed the Bears as 3-point favorites with the total set at 43.5.
The Bears were picked to finish third in the NFC North by most experts behind Green Bay and Minnesota, but Chicago is currently sitting atop the division and riding a two-game winning streak. The defense is starting to resemble the one that carried them to the Super Bowl in 2006 and the QB position is starting to be a strength.
Both elements were on display last week when Chicago crushed the Lions 34-7. The Bears allowed only 185 yards of total offense and QB Kyle Orton threw for a career-high 334 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bears hold a slim 12-10 lead in the all-time head-to-head, but they have won each of their last two trips to the Georgia Dome and have won three straight in the series.
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Just because Orton had a big game, the Bears will not deviate from their ball control offense led by rookie running back Matt Forte. The Bears are averaging a rock solid 126.9 yards per game on the ground and Forte has racked up 383 yards on the season.
Orton has proved that he can deliver when teams make a concerted effort to stop the run. He threw three touchdown passes in Chicago’s week 4 win over a very good Eagles team and then followed that up with a career-day versus the Lions.
Devin Hester is becoming a much bigger player in the offense and has 10 receptions and two touchdowns this season. His presence on the field gives the Bears a much needed deep threat for the defense to think about.
The Falcons have not been strong defensively this season, ranking 23rd in yards allowed, 22nd against the pass, and 21st against the run. There’s no doubt that a disciplined Bears team will look to pound the ball at Atlanta this weekend. If you think that is the right recipe for success for Chicago, bet the Bears at -3 at BetUS and receive up to a 50% signup bonus.
As I already mentioned, the Falcons won only four games in all of 2007 and they are already one win away from that mark in 2008. In addition, they are still very much alive in the NFC South hunt.
The young Falcons have struggled on the road, but have held strong at home. They outlasted Green Bay 27-24 last week and have shown the ability to run the football behind key offseason acquisition Michael Turner. Turner is currently the NFL’s rushing leader and went for 126 yards last week against the Packers.
Atlanta’s offense has produced 180.6 rushing yards per game which is good for number two in the league. The Falcons will face a tough test this week against a Bears defense which has allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league through the first five weeks. You can bet that Chicago will stack the line and try to make rookie QB Matt Ryan beat them.
The Bears have not been as good against the pass, ranking 23rd is passing yards allowed, because they they feel stopping the run first and foremost is more important. That’s why opponents have tried more passes against the Bears than any other team. If Matt Ryan is able to have the same kind of career day that Kyle Orton did last week, Chicago could be in trouble. But that appears to be a chance the Bears are willing to take with any QB.
Atlanta hasn’t showed the willingness to air it out much as evidenced by its number 25 ranking in passing yards per game, but Ryan and the dangerous Roddy White have already begun to develop some chemistry. White has 454 of Ryan’s 863 passing yards and poses the biggest threat to the Bears defense. White is coming off a 132-yard performance in last week’s win over Green Bay. If you think Atlanta can continue their strong play at home this week, bet the Falcons at BetUS.
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