Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
The Bears should be able to get pressure on the Falcons, whose offensive line has been decimated by injuries. It’s possible they could be down four Week 1 starters when the game kicks off at 4:25 EDT on Sunday. Lamarr Houston, who made more headlines for his “eat dirt” comments than for anything he’s done on the field, should make hay against former Bears first round bust Gabe Carimi who is manning the right tackles position.
Jared Allen, who is now a couple of weeks removed from his pneumonia, gets to go up against high first round pick Jake Matthews. The Bears rookie DT’s should have opportunities to collapse the pocket against the Falcons backup center Peter Konz with starter Joe Hawley (or Brawley if you watched Hard Knocks) on IR.
More than anything you’d like to see some creativity from the Bears defense. It’s time for Mel Tucker to dial up some blitzes and wrinkles. If they let Ryan survey the field and their Cover-2 or Cover-3 shell, it’s going to be a long day for the Bears defense and a track meet for the offense.