Three matchups to watch when the Chicago Bears host the Falcons in Week 17

2) Matt Eberflus vs. Arthur Smith

In a game where each head coach is on the hot seat, this could be a make-or-break game for both Matt Eberflus and Arthur Smith.

Neither coach has quite gotten a vote of confidence from the front office, and each team's respective fanbase would probably move in a new direction if given the choice. For Eberflus, his inability to coach with a lead has bitten the Bears three times this year, while Smith's conservative approach has squandered the abilities of an offense that is stacked with first-round talent.

The Falcons are flush with athletes at the skill positions, having used high picks in recent years on Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson, yet most games feel like a slog for Atlanta's offense. The blame for that falls at Smith's feet, and without a strong finish to the season, he very well may be gone.

The Bears have been a much better team in the second half of the season, but Eberflus isn't in the clear yet. The defense, his bread and butter, has been outstanding, but game management gaffes continue to plague him. A definitive beatdown of the Falcons would go a long way towards securing his place in 2024.