Week 1 Highlights: Falcons Vs Bears

I really have a hard time giving the Bears the respect they deserve, despite constantly leaping to Jay Cutler’s defence whenever anyone question’s the kid’s ability to play.

I was impressed with the move the Bears brass made for Cutler – a solid QB was the missing component in this otherwise brutal and at times, dominating unit. Cutler is more than just solid: at his best he is sensational. Given the fact he’s a Bears fan, his heart could not be more in this. People need to lay off his character and I need to start looking at this team as the threat they proved they could be last year, while floating under the radar to the division title and an NFC Championship home game.

Honestly, I did not think they would beat the Falcons, who I pegged as a genuine top ten team, but beat them they did by a score of 21-12.

Matt Ryan of the Falcons had a shockingly bad game, but it wasn’t entirely his fault. He was sacked 5 times in his first outing this regular season and looked the worse for it. With no touchdowns and an interception to his name, Ryan needs to protect the football, but more importantly himself, if the Falcons are going to fly.

Cutler was effective with a rating of 107.8, a pair of TD tosses and an interception, but it was his 300+ passing yards that gave the Bears a serious chance in this game, a chance they more than willingly took.

Games won’t come easy for the Bears this year with Detroit and Green Bay playing at an elite level, and it they hope to emulate the success of last year, they’d better start racking up notches in the W column sooner rather than later.

But that’s the thing with this Bears team; the thing that makes me want to re-evaluate them and their prospects. When given a chance – even a glimmer of hope – they take it, break it’s neck and then bury it under the patio. They do not mess around. They are hungrier than they are expectant and perennially embarrassed by what I’m sure they regard as their annual underachievement. They mean business, and I’m scared.

Atlanta, though, looked poor. They will find their groove but they have to ensure they win against division rivals if they want a realistic chance of topping the hugely competitive NFC South. Will they do it? I doubt it, but with the Eagles to play next week, the time to answers questions is upon them.


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