Last Updated on September 8, 2011 2:33 pm by admin
ATLANTA (13-3) At CHICAGO (11-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
OPENING LINE – Pick ’em
2010 RECORD VS. SPREAD – Atlanta 11-6-0; Chicago 10-7-1
SERIES RECORD – Tied 12-12
LAST MEETING – Falcons beat Bears 21-14, Oct. 18, 2009
FALCONS OFFENSE – OVERALL (16), RUSH (12), PASS (15)
FALCONS DEFENSE – OVERALL (16), RUSH (10), PASS (22)
BEARS OFFENSE – OVERALL (30), RUSH (22), PASS (28)
BEARS DEFENSE – OVERALL (9), RUSH (2), PASS (20)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Game matches reigning NFC South (Atlanta) and North (Chicago) champions. … Atlanta came away with two close wins at home over Bears in recent years. In 2009, Michael Turner scored on 5-yard run with just over three minutes left and Bears drive stalled at Falcons 5, preserving 21-14 win. Bears blew opportunities, with Jay Cutler throwing an interception at Atlanta 9 and Matt Forte losing fumble at 1. … In ’08, Chicago’s Kyle Orton hit Rashied Davis with TD pass with 11 seconds left only to lose 22-20 on 48-yard FG by Jason Elam. … Falcons’ 13 wins last season second-most in franchise history and gave them top seed in NFC; playoff run ended immediately in 48-21 loss to Green Bay. … Atlanta led NFL in kickoff return average last season (26.5 yards). … WR Roddy White set franchise records for catches (115) and yards receiving (1,389) while earning third consecutive Pro Bowl selection. … Atlanta added No. 6 pick Julio Jones to mix at WR, giving Matt Ryan another big-play target. … DE John Abraham fifth in NFL with 13 sacks last season. … Turner led NFC with 1,371 yards rushing. Went to suburban North Chicago HS. … Chicago 51-35-5 in season-openers and tied with Green Bay for most opening day wins. … Bears attempted 258 rushing plays and 276 pass plays over final nine weeks last season. … With 4,731 yards from scrimmage, Forte needs 33 to pass Curtis Conway for seventh on Bears’ list. … LS Patrick Mannelly enters 14th season, tying club record with Doug Buffone (1966-79) and Hall of Famer Bill George (1952-65).