Special Teams: C+
Oct 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould (9) kicks a field goal against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
One area where the Bears continue to struggle is special teams. The unit commits a lot of penalties and the return game has been abysmal since the departure of Devin Hester.
However, although Chicago did opt to kick to Hester for most of the afternoon, they did not allow him to make any game-changing plays and limited him to 44 yards on kickoff returns and just 10 yards on punt returns.
Robbie Gould was successful on both of his field goal attempts, but one of his extra-point attempts was blocked. Although the Bears did not play exceptionally well in this area, the coverage unit deserves credit for consistently limiting Hester, who would have like nothing more than to have a big outing against his former team.
Coaching: A
Oct 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman (right) and Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith shake hands after the game at the Georgia Dome. The Bears defeated the Falcons 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Marc Trestman successfully implemented a solid game from start to finish. And when it looked the Bears were heading towards another second-half disaster when the Falcons tied the game at 13, the Bears responded with 14 unanswered points to put the game out of reach. This was a far cry from the team that scored just three points in the second half in the previous two outings.
Mel Tucker’s unit played well despite missing several starters, and with the exceptions of a few mistakes, the Falcons were never able to establish a rhythm offensively. And as a result, the Bears came with a victory in a venue that is difficult for road teams to play in.