5 questions Chicago Bears must answer at Atlanta Falcons

While the Chicago Bears’ chances of the playoffs this season are slowly sinking away we all knew this roster was building toward the future anyways. With that in mind, there are still going to be plenty of things to watch to see where the momentum is for each player heading into the offseason.

The Chicago Bears lost a winnable game against the Detroit Lions, but they go right into another winnable one at the Atlanta Falcons. With that in mind, there is plenty to discuss on the current roster.

5. Will Justin Fields avoid sacks against the Atlanta Falcons

Justin Fields is the most sacked quarterback in the NFL. While some of this is not his fault, there is too much that still sits on his shoulders. He is third in the NFL in pressure responsible on the quarterback, and eighth in the NFL in pressure to sack rate. So, he can limit some of the pressure himself, and even then when he is under pressure he has to limit the number of times that turns into a sack.

If there is ever a team to do this against, it is the Atlanta Falcons. They cannot buy sacks. They rank 32nd in the NFL in pressure rate, at 10%, and they also rank 30th in adjusted sack rate, according to Football Outsiders. So, they do not get pressure, and they do not get sacks.

Justin Fields has played some defenses that lack pressure already, but none quite like this. This has to be a sign of improvement, as he does not take sacks on Sunday.

On the flip side, we have a very similar matchup. Marcus Mariota is tied with Fields in pressure to sack rank and ranks 10th in pressure responsibility. On the flip side, the Chicago Bears are 25th in pressure generated, and 32nd in adjusted sack rate.

The winner of this game will be the team that surprisingly gets sacks. The loser will be the team that takes more sacks. Justin Fields has to win this individual matchup, as the Atlanta defense lacks a pass rush just as much as the Chicago Bears.