The 6-9 Chicago Bears are enjoying the 7-8 Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field in a Week 17 matchup. Here’s what it is advisable to know.
Inactives introduced
Bears tight finish Cole Kmet is energetic for Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Falcons.
Kmet handled a knee harm through the week and was listed as questionable. He by no means has missed a sport in 4 seasons with the Bears, a streak of 65 straight getting into Sunday.
Bears middle Lucas Patrick can also be energetic after being listed as questionable with a knee situation. Left guard Teven Jenkins will return after clearing concussion protocol.
Running again D’Onta Foreman, nonetheless, is inactive after working towards all week. The Bears will depend on Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson as an alternative.
As the Bears introduced Friday, they are going to be with out large receiver Darnell Mooney, who’s in concussion protocol. Linebacker DeMarquis Gates, security Quindell Johnson, offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter and quarterback Nathan Peterman are also inactive. Peterman will function the emergency third quarterback.
For the Falcons, tight finish John FitzPatrick, defensive linemen Joe Gaziano and Tommy Togiai, offensive linemen Jovaughn Gwyn and John Leglue and quarterback Logan Woodside are inactive.
‘People put a timeline on whether they can judge guys, but I’m actually simply at first’
By most accounts, Justin Fields has made steps towards turning into the kind of quarterback the Bears can win with.
Interceptions and sacks are down since he got here again from the thumb harm Nov. 19. He has closed out some wins. He has had flashes of enchancment in his motion throughout the pocket and his willingness to cross downfield slightly than at all times tuck and run when the pocket breaks down. And he has continued to point out his distinctive capability — not like few others within the NFL — to increase performs along with his legs.
But is that sufficient to persuade the Bears to guess on him once more? Read extra right here.
How have the Bears fared on New Year’s Eve video games?
Fans at Soldier Field on Dec. 31, 1988, settled in to observe a divisional playoff sport in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles in surprising consolation.
There was vivid sunshine, little wind and temperatures heading for the 40s. Until, a sudden slap within the face.
“A fog that rolled in from the lake late in the first half left the spectators to stare into a gray shroud from which the players would emerge with maddening infrequency,” Tribune reporter Phil Hersh wrote on the time.
Few of the 65,534 spectators had been capable of see the ultimate moments of the Bears’ 20-12 victory because of the thick haze.
The “Fog Bowl” — which marked the primary time the Bears ever performed on New Year’s Eve — is now one of many franchise’s most memorable video games. Read extra right here.
Defensive numbers don’t lie
There is a hyperlink between the 2023 Bears and previous groups, together with the division champions in 2018 and 2001 and even the Super Bowl XX champions of 1985.
The run protection this season is each bit pretty much as good because it was for the dominant defenses of these profitable groups. In reality, with two video games remaining, Matt Eberflus’ workforce has a shot at being the perfect run protection in Bears historical past, a exceptional chance when contemplating final 12 months’s workforce ranked thirty first within the NFL permitting 157.3 yards per sport, the group’s second-worst season within the Super Bowl period (161.4 yards per sport in 2013). Read extra right here.
Catch up on all our protection earlier than kickoff
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Source: www.bostonherald.com