There’s only one thing that’s going to get the taste out of the Atlanta Falcons’ mouths from the worst Super Bowl choke job in history and that’s delivering a solid ass kicking this season. Luckily, in Week One, the Chicago Bears have just the ass required.
The Game: Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears (+6.5)
The History
The two teams have only met 26 times in their combined history. The Bears lead the all-time match up 14-12.
They’ve only played twice this decade, in 2011 and 2014, and the Bears won both games and neither were close, 30-12 and 27-13.
The longest win streak belongs to Atlanta. The Falcons won five straight games from September, 1972 to October, 1977.
Chicago won five consecutive games of their own from November, 1985 to October, 1993.
ATLANTA FALCONS
This is the same unit that led the NFL in offense last season and put up 540 points. There are two key differences in this year’s unit, one good and one bad. The good is that Julio Jones is healthy and when he’s healthy, oh shit. Jones dealt with a turf toe injury all last season and still caught 83 passes for 1,409 yards and six touchdowns. That was just in 14 games. He missed two with the injury. A healthy Jones might be the most dangerous wide receiver in the league.
Now here’s the bad, the Falcons are breaking in a new offensive coordinator and for some reason no one can explain to my satisfaction, it’s former USC head coach, one game Alabama offensive coordinator and professional whiskey swallower Steve Sarkisian. What in the hell in Sarkesian’s sorry history, from getting fired for showing up to team events and practices drunk to calling the losing game in the NCAA Championship Game would land him the most coveted offensive coordinator gig in the NFL. It’s unreal. Head coach Dan Quinn must really need a drinking buddy.
Sarkisian’s only NFL job before this was quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2004. That’s it. Yet, here he is, being handed the keys to the Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman and Julio Jones show. OK, Falcons. It’s your team.
As good as Vic Beasley played last season, racking up 15.5 sacks, the defense as a whole was pretty bad. They were ranked No. 27 in points allowed and No. 25 in yards allowed. It’s that shitty defense that helped the New England Patriots come back from 28-3 down in the Super Bowl. They do have a couple of upgrades over last year’s squad. Dontari Poe comes over at defensive tackle from the Kansas City Chiefs and Desmond Trufant returns at corner after missing most of last season with an injury.
CHICAGO BEARS
It’s the Mike Glennon show in Chicago, at least for this week. Glennon could not have looked worse this preseason, yet for whatever reason John Fox and the Bears will keep him in at quarterback to guarantee a loss in Week One. If the Falcons needed a boost to for their defense, Glennon is just the guy to provide it.
There are some quality players on the Bears’ offense. Kevin White could be in store for a breakout season at wideout and Chicago is three deep at tight end. Jordan Howard is a solid running back the Bears don’t have a complete disaster as an offensive line. There’s no question at some point, after about five or six losses, the quarterback job will belong to rookie No. 2 pick Mitchell Trubisky, but for now Chicago will field Glennon. And the Falcons will feed him some turf.
As bad as Atlanta’s defense was, the Bears were nearly as terrible last season. They were No. 24 in points allowed, but so much of that comes from a short field after dumbass turnovers. Chicago did finish at No. 15 in yards allowed, but that’s what happens when the other team consistently starts at midfield.
The Pick
I’m kind of shocked that this line isn’t over eight, but just consider that a gift from the oddsmakers to your wallet if you so choose to partake of the betting sports. I think the Falcons are due for a Super Bowl hangover this year, but facing this Chicago team could be a quick cure. Falcons 34, Bears 16
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