Ferocious team defense and two Jay Cutler TD passes led the Chicago Bears to an impressive 30-12 week one victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Here are the good, the bad, and the keys to watch from the Bears’ week one win.
The Good
Urlacher and Team Defense: The Bears’ impressive performance may be as much due to middle-linebacker Brian Urlacher’s frenetic defense as Cutler’s arm. Urlacher, anchoring the Bears’ defensive onslaught, chalked up six solo tackles, four assists, an interception, and a fumble recovery returned for a TD. In his post-game remarks, Bears head coach Lovie Smith referred to Urlacher as “our franchise player” and credited Urlacher’s leadership for the Bears’ sharp start. “We talk a lot about taking the ball away around here,” Smith said. Urlacher’s interception “really got us going,” Smith added.
The Bears’ defense did impress, holding quarterback Matt Ryan and the reigning NFC South champion Falcons to a paltry 12 points. In fact, Urlacher’s outstretched interception of Ryan’s pass set up the Bears’ first touchdown. Julius Peppers also started the season with a bang, logging two sacks and forcing the fumble that Urlacher returned for a TD.
The Bears showed a relentless team defense in week one. But some concerns remain. The defense gave up 20 first downs on just 66 plays, and the Falcons’ 386 total net yards came on a respectable 31-completion performance by Ryan. Minus Urlacher’s interception and TD fumble recovery, this game was pretty tight..
Jay Cutler: Cutler’s 107.8 passer rating marks a significant improvement on his 84.3 career average. Cutler’s 56-yard TD screen pass to Matt Forte was especially exciting, given the offense’s need to slow defenses with screens and misdirection plays in order to provide Cutler more time to look downfield.
The Falcons defense still sacked Cutler four times, but Cutler now looks like he belongs in second-year offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s offense. Cutler spread the ball to eight different receivers, and in addition to the Forte screen pass, Cutler hit Devin Hester on a 53-yarder. The Bears’ significantly improved receiving core may take pressure of off Forte, whose 68 rushing yards on 16 attempts was nothing special.
Today’s performance proved that with reliable underneath targets, Hester’s speed will stretch defenses and open up occasional big-play opportunities. Cutler’s rocket arm obviously hasn’t cooled, and an aggressive vertical passing game paired with screens and slants could pave the way to an exciting Bears offense.
The Bad
Offensive Line: The Bears’ O-line gave up four sacks and mustered just 88 net rushing yards. Roberto Garza was solid in his first game as the replacement for departed center Olin Kreutz. But the line’s play was inconsistent, and the offense’s 1-3 performance in the red zone was the result. Cutler might not survive another year of 50+ sacks, so Martz and the O-line need to come up with additional ways to slow defenses and get the ball out of Cutler’s hands faster.
Keys to Watch: The Bears travel to New Orleans in week two. After their 42-34 heartbreaking loss on national television in the NFL season opener, Drew Brees and the Saints will test the Bears’ pass defense. Brees threw for 419 yards week one, and he’s much less likely than the still inexperienced Ryan to feed the Bears easy turnovers. If Saints receiver Marques Colston’s injury keeps him out of action week two, the Bears might have an easier time keeping a lid on Brees. But the Bears will likely need a repeat performance from Cutler – and better protection from the offensive line – to get a tough road win.
Bears team stats: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/chi/stats