Dan Quinn and the rest of the Falcons picked up the pieces and went home after having their Super Bowl hopes shattered by Tom Brady and they’ve spent the offseason taping and gluing the parts back together without the guidance of offensive guru Kyle Shanahan. They’ll begin the long journey back up the crest of the NFL’s elite with a stop at Soldier Field for a game against the lowly Bears.
- The Falcons are 7-2 SU and 8-1 ATS in their last nine games on the road.
- The Bears are 10-3 SU in their last 13 games against the Falcons.
- The Falcons’ last 9 games (including playoffs) have gone OVER their total.
Putting together one of the most dominant offensive seasons in NFL history in 2016, it would be nearly impossible for the Dirty Birds to match what they did last year even if Shanahan was still in the fold. If Atlanta is going to improve on an 11-5 regular-season record, the defense will have to soar and a Week 1 contest against the Bears offers the Falcons’ ball-stopping unit an opportunity to shine.
Chicago will be led onto the field by journeyman quarterback-in-the-making Mike Glennon. While the 27-year-old will test you down the field with an impressive arm, his consistency leaves a lot to be desired and the Falcons should have themselves a field day with a solidified D-line and a healthy Desmond Trufant to hawk balls in the secondary.
Running back Jordan Howard is the Bears’ only real threat on the offensive side of the football so expect Atlanta to key on him and don’t be surprised if he’s held in check after being selected in the first round of most fantasy football drafts.
If Dan Quinn’s defensive unit does what it should against an offense that has the potential to be one of the worst in the NFL, Matt Ryan and his extensive list of weapons won’t have any trouble covering a spread that opened with the Falcons favored by a touchdown plus an extra point.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Betting fans looking to side with the Chicago Bears in this one found them as 6-point underdogs earlier in the week at Sportsbook, while the total was sitting at 51.
OddsShark prediction models picked the Bears to win this game on Sunday 24-23. Check the picks page or matchup report during the week as factors may cause that prediction to be re-run. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.
Atlanta Falcons vs Chicago Bears Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Last season the Chicago Bears were 3-13 overall and 7-9 ATS against the spread, while the Falcons were 13-6 and 12-7 ATS. As for the totals, Chicago was 7-8-1 on the OU, and Atlanta was 17-2. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Chicago vs Atlanta injuries news.
This game matches up the No. 29 (Chicago Bears) and the No. 2 (Atlanta Falcons) teams in the league, according to our current NFL Power Rankings at OddsShark.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Chicago's No. 29-ranked offense last season, averaging 17.44 PPG, against a Falcons defense that ranked No. 27 at 25.32 PPG. The Bears aerial game averaged 248.38 yards per game, less than the Falcons secondary allowed through the air, 272.74 YPG per game.
In comparing defenses, the Atlanta Falcons owned the league's No. 20-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 116.13 yards per game when on the road. Chicago, on the other hand, rated No. 14 in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Matt Ryan passed for 2 touchdowns in his team's last game, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Patriots, who won 34-28 in the Super Bowl.
Jordan Howard went over the 100-yard mark (135) in his team's last effort, but Minnesota still defeated Chicago by a score of 38-10.
- Atlanta is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
- Atlanta is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games
- Atlanta is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
- Chicago is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
- Chicago is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games
- Chicago is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Atlanta home to Green Bay, Sunday, September 17
Chicago at Tampa Bay, Sunday, September 17
