The Atlanta Falcons return to the Georgia Dome on Sunday for a Week 6 matchup with the Chicago Bears, following back-to-back games on the road. The two clubs have met 25 times, with the Bears holding a 13-12 advantage in the all-time series. Falcons head coach Mike Smith owns a 2-1 record against the Bears, including wins at the Georgia Dome in 2008 and 2009.
Top Matchup: Falcons WR Julio Jones vs Bears CB Kyle Fuller
Entering Sunday's game, Jones ranks second in the league with 40 receptions for 552 yards (13.8 avg.). The last time he played in the Georgia Dome (Week 3), he shined with nine receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns, which would be outstanding numbers against Fuller, who's tied atop the league with three interceptions this season. "He's very talented," Jones said about Fuller. "He's a young guy, but very talented; we just have to go out there and make plays and be consistent."
Under the Radar Player to Watch: Falcons CB Robert Alford
Following the Week 5 loss, Alford admitted that he was disappointed with his performance against the Giants, but approached the practice week with a fresh mindset to learn from his mistakes and prepare for the very talented Chicago Bears wide receivers, including Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. "They are two great receivers," Alford said. "They're tall receivers, big receivers that like to be physical; we've just got to go out there and use our technique to our advantage."
On the Radar Player to Watch: Falcons WR Devin Hester
The question all week has been how will Hester react on game day, facing his former Bears teammates, following a remarkable eight-year career in Chicago, which included 19 return scores, 217 receptions for 2,807 yards and 14 touchdowns; the answer was easy. "I'm going to treat it like it's just another game," Hester said. "That's the way I'm approaching it. I don't want to go out there and force anything on Sunday. I'm going to go out there and play ball and have a good ball game."
As the Falcons prepare to return to the Georgia Dome to take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday, keep an eye on these storylines.
Two of the best wide receiver duos will be going head-to-head as the Atlanta Falcons take on the Chicago Bears this week. Julio Jones and Roddy White have a combined 765 yards and five touchdowns while Bears receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey have a combined 547 yards and seven touchdowns.
RB Antone Smith has been one of the most explosive players on the Falcons offense with touchdowns over 38 yards in four of the first five games. Smith's 78-yard touchdown against the New York Giants was the biggest play of the day for the Falcons and gave the Falcons a 10-point lead after halftime before the Giants bounced back.
WR Devin Hester has fit into the Falcons offense's puzzle perfectly this year and this week Hester will be taking on his former team in the Chicago Bears. Hester had 18 career non-offense touchdowns while playing for the Bears, but broke the record this season as a Falcon against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
These two teams are in the same position. Both the Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears are a game behind the leaders in the division and suffering two losses in a row, so both teams are searching for redemption on Sunday.
OL Gabe Carimi and the rest of the offensive line looked solid during the first half of play against the New York Giants. Carimi has shown that both him and the rest of the offensive line have what it takes to hold strong and give QB Matt Ryan time if they can replicate the first half they had this last week.
What the team has lacked on the road, they have made up for at home and returning to the Dome can't come soon enough. Undefeated at home so far this season, the Falcons have an opportunity to get back to a .500 record this Sunday against the Chicago Bears.
The loss against the New York Giants may have been tough, but it's only Week 6 and the season is far from over. The Carolina Panthers only have a one game lead over the Atlanta Falcons in the division, and the Falcons are tied with the New Orleans Saints after they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The division is still a horse race and anything is possible.
TE Levine Toilolo may not have had any catches during Sunday's loss to the New York Giants, but he was a key contributor blocking including on RB Steven Jackson's touchdown run. As injuries depleted the offensive line against the Minnesota Vikings, it was Toilolo that filled in and his versitility has been a valuable asset for the Falcons offense.
A forced fumble on special teams gave the Atlanta Falcons great field position, but the team failed to capitalize and were held to a field goal. The drive before was also held to a field goal inside the 20-yard line. The struggle in the redzone and failure to convert third downs are both areas that need improvement before the Falcons take on the Chicago Bears.
The Chicago Bears final three drives ended in an interception and two fumbles which the Carolina Panthers capitalized on. The Atlanta Falcons need to take advantage of any opportunites the Bears give them in order and replicate that same success.
Starting at center this week after the loss of C Joe Hawley for the season was Peter Konz and he showed he could fill the shoes.
The Atlanta Falcons will be looking to repeat the success of the first half of the game against the New York Giants. RB Steven Jackson ran for a touchdown, special teams forced a fumble and the defense held the Giants to 10 points. Consistency is the emphasis for the team as they continue to prepare for the Chicago Bears.
Keep an eye on these players returning from injury. There is a possibility that WR Harry Douglas and G Justin Blalock could be active for the game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Number of the Game: 319
Falcons QB Matt Ryan has played against the Bears three times in his career (2-1), completing 65-percent of his passes (72-110). The last time Ryan faced Chicago, a road contest in 2011, he threw for 319 yards; he'll look for at least that much on Sunday, returning to the Georgia Dome, where he's unbeaten this season (2-0), combining for 734 yards passing and six touchdowns.
Three Keys to Victory:
1. Third-Down Success: For the season, the Falcons are 29 of 62 (47 percent) on third down, a stat they hope to improve on Sunday. "If you're not converting third-downs, you're not going to win football games," Ryan said. "It comes down to making plays when they present themselves."
2. Red Zone Work: The Falcons have been strong in the red zone in 2014, with the exception of Week 5, when they converted one of three opportunities (33 percent). Knowing the success they've had in the past and filled with playmakers on offense, including a powerful RBs group, Falcons fans hope their team comes away with more six-point plays than field goals in Week 6 and beyond.
3. Limit Explosive Plays:The Falcons defense allowed three explosive plays in Week 5, pleasing defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who said if his guys can "take another step" in the right direction, facing the Bears, the team will find itself in a position to win its third game of the season, before taking to the road, not returning to the Georgia Dome, until Week 11 (Nov. 23) against the Cleveland Browns.
