Game Overview ::
By papy324 >>
- This is an elimination game for the Falcons. They are alive for the NFC South crown or a wild-card spot with a win, and likely mathematically eliminated with a loss.
- The Bears are the only nine-loss team who hasn’t been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. They need to win out and get a lot of help.
- Matt Eberflus is coaching for his job, even if the Bears probably can’t make the playoffs.
- This game pairs two teams in the bottom five in pass rate over expectation (PROE) and top five in run defense DVOA.
- Arthur Smith continues to feed touches to lesser players, rather than relying on his trio of top-10 picks.
- DJ Moore rolled his ankle last week but might be the Bears’ only regular pass catcher who plays. Cole Kmet and Darnell Mooney both look legitimately questionable to start the week.
How atlanta Will Try To Win ::
The 7-8 Falcons come into Week 17 with a losing record but are still very much alive in the NFC playoff race. They split their head-to-head matchups with the division-leading Buccaneers and are a half-game behind them in division record. The Bucs play two division games to end the year, so any slip-up would allow the Falcons to catch them for first place. The NFC South looked like nine wins could take the division all season, but the NFC wild-card race has also gotten surprisingly tight. One of the Eagles // Cowboys look locked in as the top wild card, but the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds are less clear. There are six teams (Rams // Seahawks // Vikings // Packers // Falcons // Saints) within a game of each other for the final two playoff spots. Whichever two teams make the dance probably need to win their final two games, which makes this week an elimination game for the Falcons. OWS readers (along with anyone paying attention to fantasy football) know the deal with Atlanta by now. The Falcons want to ride their strong O-line (5th-ranked per PFF) which benefited from the return of center Drew Dalman and guard Chris Lindstrom last week. LT Jake Matthews went down in the fourth quarter and is questionable early in the week, but for what it’s worth, Arthur Smith said that Matthews was, “cleared to return.” The Falcons are last in the league in PROE by leaps and bounds, but they do play quickly (fourth in overall pace), which isn’t usually associated with teams that are extremely run heavy. The Bears have been stingy against the run (third in DVOA) and easier to throw against (18th in DVOA), but that difference is unlikely to tilt the Falcons away from their preferred method of attack. Desmond Ridder is out, and Taylor Heinicke is back in at QB. Who plays QB for the Falcons matters about as much as Smith’s classmate’s mom calling the school principal to report him for giving her son a wedge. Expect the Falcons to come out with their typical run-oriented game plan, even if they’re testing the strength of the Bears defense.
You must be logged in to view collective notes about a game.
You must be logged in to add notes about a game.