This one is pretty simple...
As Michael Turner goes, so goes the Falcons offense. He leads the league in rushing yards and touchdowns. In all three of Atlanta's wins, Turner has rushed for at least 100 yards and scored at least one time. But look at which teams those numbers came against: Detroit (3rd-worst run D in the league), KC (2nd-worst) and Green Bay (surprsingly, the 6th-worst run D in the league, giving up 161 ypg on the ground).
But both times the Falcons faced an even remotely decent run defense (Carolina and Tampa Bay), he and the entire Atlanta offense was held in check...and they dropped both games by a 24-9 score. This will be by far the toughest test the Falcons ground game has seen this year, as the Bears rank fourth overall in run D. They have yet to allow a RB to reach 100 on the ground this year.
The Falcons will probably need to throw the ball to keep up, as their D has given up 20 or more points in four straight. Chicago doesn't have a great pass defense, but let's face it...the Falcons don't have a great passing attack. Roddy White may be out of the lineup, which would be a big blow as he's their top producing receiver by a wide margin. I'm going to check his status before kicoff, but right now, even though I'm not usually big on laying points with a road team in the NFL, this one looks to be pretty solid. I cant' really think of a single good reason to fade the Bears here.
Thoughts?
As Michael Turner goes, so goes the Falcons offense. He leads the league in rushing yards and touchdowns. In all three of Atlanta's wins, Turner has rushed for at least 100 yards and scored at least one time. But look at which teams those numbers came against: Detroit (3rd-worst run D in the league), KC (2nd-worst) and Green Bay (surprsingly, the 6th-worst run D in the league, giving up 161 ypg on the ground).
But both times the Falcons faced an even remotely decent run defense (Carolina and Tampa Bay), he and the entire Atlanta offense was held in check...and they dropped both games by a 24-9 score. This will be by far the toughest test the Falcons ground game has seen this year, as the Bears rank fourth overall in run D. They have yet to allow a RB to reach 100 on the ground this year.
The Falcons will probably need to throw the ball to keep up, as their D has given up 20 or more points in four straight. Chicago doesn't have a great pass defense, but let's face it...the Falcons don't have a great passing attack. Roddy White may be out of the lineup, which would be a big blow as he's their top producing receiver by a wide margin. I'm going to check his status before kicoff, but right now, even though I'm not usually big on laying points with a road team in the NFL, this one looks to be pretty solid. I cant' really think of a single good reason to fade the Bears here.
Thoughts?
