As the Chicago Bears continue to prep for their week three matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday’s game posses an interesting threat. The Falcons, although 0-2, have averaged 32 points per game. Even with the offensive output, Atlanta’s defense has allowed 38 points per game, the Bears offense has yet win a high scoring shootout type of game. Head coach Matt Nagy was hired to do just that and has failed to win that type of game so far.
Matt Ryan ranks the following through 2 weeks:
No. 1 in completions with 61
No. 2 in passing yards with 723 QBR of 109.6The Falcons rank No. 2 in passing offense, averaging yards per game 350.5 ypg#MattRyanAppreciationTweet
— Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) September 23, 2020
When Nagy was hired in 2018 by general manager Ryan Pace, he was hired because he was seen as the next innovative offensive mind. In the five game as offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017, the Chiefs offense averaged over 27 points per game during that time. The Chiefs offense did this via deep passes along with a focus on the running game as they rushed for over 100 yards in all five games.
Through 34 games as Bears head coach, Nagy’s offense has only score more than 30 points on offense four times. Three of those game came in 2018 and one came against the Dallas Cowboys last season. In those three games, the Bears either led by or won by 14 points. Nagy’s Bears have yet to win a shootout type of game where both offenses are scoring back and forth.
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The most production in one game by the Bears offense, under Nagy, came back in week four of 2018 against the Buccaneers. In a 48-10 victory, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky passed for 344 yards and threw a Bears’ record six touchdowns. Five of the six touchdowns came on drives that were 70-yards or longer.
Atlanta has been one of the more fun teams to watch this season because of their exciting offense. Led by Matt Ryan, the Falcons have a slew of impressive players on offense which include Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Todd Gurley, Russell Gage, and Hayden Hurst. All have scored touchdowns this season with multiple scores being of 20-yards or longer.
2020 stats
Calvin Ridley: 4 TD
New York Jets: 2 TD
New York Giants: 2 TD pic.twitter.com/KkeFkXDCL2— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) September 20, 2020
Chicago’s defense and offense have both flashed and struggled at times this season. The Bears offense has failed to score a touchdown in five of the eight quarters played this season. The Falcons on the other hand have scored touchdowns in five of their eight quarters played and have scored more than seven points in those five quarters.
Atlanta’s ability to score points in bunches presents a huge issue for the Bears if the offense struggles to match the Falcons’ production. Although Atlanta’s defense has been terrible this season, It is still on the Bears’ offense to prove that they can have the same offensive production that both the Cowboys and Seahawks have had in previous weeks.
Defensively, the Falcons should try to make the Bears Offense one dimensional & make QB Mitchell Trubisky prove he can beat you…Keep him INSIDE the POCKET because I feel he’s better OUTSIDE the POCKET making plays…He relies HEAVY on the run game & uses PLAY-ACTION off of it pic.twitter.com/saqqiWjycw
— Harry Douglas (@HDouglas83) September 24, 2020
Sunday’s game is a very winnable game for the Bears, but the question remains if they can take advantage of a poor defense and match one of the league’s best offenses score for score. If Chicago loses and fails to put points on the board, Nagy and Trubisky will be the focus of criticism next week. With a high scoring victory by the offense, the Bears will be 3-0, but more importantly, it will show that they have turned the corner offensively.
