Rollercoaster Ride: Bears go up, then down after Falcons' game-winning FG

The Chicago Bears experienced all of the emotional highs and lows of the NFL in just a matter of seconds against the Atlanta Falcons. After trailing the entire game, the Bears (3-3) finally got things going in their favor very late in the contest and took a one-point lead over the Falcons (4-2) with :11 left in the game. The ensuing kickoff was a squib kick that was fielded by Atlanta and returned to their 44-yard line; which set up rookie Matt Ryan’s 26-yard completion to Michael Jenkins to the Chicago 30-yard line with just :01 on the clock. Then, veteran kicker Jason Elam kicked a 48-yard field goal to give the Bears their third loss of the season.

Chicago was very fortunate to even have a chance of winning, due to their inconsistency throughout the game. Kyle Orton and the offense couldn’t get into a rhythm early in the game because the Bears defense couldn’t neither get Ryan and the Falcons offense off of the field in the first half, nor get any takeaways throughout the entire game. As usual, Chicago’s run defense did its job, holding league leading rusher Michael Turner to 54 yards on 23 carries. It was the pass defense that couldn’t get it together. The Bears allowed Atlanta’s rookie quarterback to throw for over 300 yards and a TD. The Bears’ porous secondary could have been due to the fact that their top three cornerbacks were out of the game. Nathan Vasher didn’t play because of a wrist injury, and both Charles Tillman and Trumaine McBride left the game with shoulder injuries—leaving reserves Corey Graham and Marcus Hamilton as the only two cornerbacks for the Bears. The lack of depth in the secondary resulted in Ryan converting on two third-and-longs (3 rd and 16; 3 rd and 9) and a second-and-long (2 nd and 25), and connecting with Roddy White for the only TD the Bears allowed. Things could have been much worse for Brian Urlacher and company. The defense did stiffen up when it mattered most in the first half, only allowing the Falcons to score three field goals instead of touchdowns. But the final offensive play for the Falcons is where the Bears defense broke—failing to defend the sidelines which helped Atlanta stop the clock with :01 remaining.

Things were starting to click for the offense in the second half, where rookie Matt Forte, who had 110 total yards from scrimmage, rushed for the game’s first touchdown from three yards out. In addition, Devin Hester continued to show improvement as a receiver with six catches for 87 yards, both team highs. One crucial point for Chicago’s offense was in the fourth quarter when they were faced with a fourth-and-goal on the one-yard line and failed to convert. Needing a touchdown and a field goal to tie the game, many say that they should have kicked it, but fortunately the defense held Atlanta and forced a punt. After a Robbie Gould field goal, the Bears got the ball back and Orton then showed his poise and orchestrated a drive where he completed seven out of 11 passes for 77 yards, including what should have been the game-winning TD pass to Rashied Davis.

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All three of the Chicago Bears’ losses have come against NFC South opponents, and all three of those losses have come from the Bears giving up a lead late in the game. If the NFC South is the only Achilles heel for the Bears, then according to their schedule, they should have a seven-game winning streak until they face their final NFC South opponent—which would be great for Chicago. But unfortunately, things just aren’t that simple. Things especially aren’t that simple now that the Bears are in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, who happens to be the team the Bears will face in Week 7.

By Clyde A. Speller
ProFootball-fans.com Chicago Bears Correspondent