Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (noon CT), the 3-2 Chicago Bears look to bounce back from a lopsided 31-7 loss in Green Bay by traveling south to face the 2-3 Atlanta Falcons. Chicago could get Caleb Williams back under center for the first time since Week 2 after he practiced in full this week (still listed as questionable), while the ground game will lean on D’Andre Swift with Kyle Monangai out again (thumb/toe). The Bears will also be without T.J. Edwards, Dayo Odeyingbo (IR), and Montez Sweat
(suspended), but are getting Shemar Turner back for the first time since he was lost to an ACL injury last season. Kyler Gordon was also activated today.
Atlanta counters with a potent offense featuring Bijan Robinson and Drake London, and Michael Penix Jr. appears ready to go after missing early action, although he is dealing with a rib injury. Both sides bring explosive pieces, so the game figures to turn on who protects the ball, who scores the touchdowns, and whether anyone goes off—whether it’s Williams or Penix throwing for big yardage (and how many interceptions each throws), Swift or Robinson finding the end zone, or a receiver like Rome Odunze or Drake London dominating. Below is our roundtable with the score predictions and the individual highlights we think will decide it.
Josh: 30-27 Chicago, with a missed PAT by the Falcons and a missed field goal by the Beloved, just because that seems to be how the NFL is going. Dexter gets the lone sack because of course he does, but Swift and Loveland do enough as Ben lets Caleb take the reins and he stops trying to make Roush happen. Of course, Bijan still gets two TDs and Penix throws for 2.
Jeff Berckes: 41-34 Bears. I think this one is super high scoring with skill player talent providing a lot of fireworks. Caleb’s return lifts the offense with a 300+ yard passing day and everyone of your fantasy options makes you happy…including those holding shares of Drake London and Bijan Robinson.
Sam: I am worried about the defensive home/road splits and the Falcons’ ability to put up points. I am also expecting a shootout, though. I’ll take Bears 35, Falcons 31.
GOOCH: What a difference a week makes. The Bears got their heads handed to them by the Pack last week after two dominant performances against the Eagles and the Jets. What team will show up on Sunday? I think the offense bounces back, but the defense is going to have their hands full with Bijan Robinson. I think Robinson puts up two touchdowns and rushes for 150 yards. Penix adds a passing touchdown to Drake London – JJ again struggles to cover a #1 wide receiver. However, Booker books another sack and Penix turns the ball over twice (one interception, one fumble). Swift comes close to matching Robinson in yards – rushing for over 100 yards in the game. But it is Caleb and Loveland that put the Bears over the top – Caleb throws for 275 yards and three touchdowns, with two going to Loveland as he breaks out. Bears over the Falcons, 40 – 28.
Superfans: Caleb Williams might be a little rusty in his first game back, so he’ll throw for only 312 yards, and the Bears offense may not hit their Week 1 point total as they recalibrate with Caleb back. So let’s call it… Da Bears 47 and the A-T-L 19.
What are your picks and predictions for the game?
