The Atlanta Falcons are riding into Sunday’s matchup against the Chicago Bears with a wild card for a quarterback room, and honestly, the Bears are in a similar boat. Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. is back under center after tearing his ACL, but he’s already nursing a rib hit from last Sunday’s Baltimore game. The plan couldn’t be simpler, according to Penix himself: “just keep handing it off.” When your quarterback situation is this messy on both sides, it really feels like the team with the better ground game is taking this one.
QB Rooms in Crisis: A Tale of Two Teams
It’s been a grinder for both squads when it comes to who is under center. Atlanta, sitting at 2-3, started the season 0-2 with Cooper Rush filling in while Penix recovered. And in just five games, they’ve seen a record four quarterbacks throw interceptions. That’s just brutal for momentum. Penix is healthy enough to throw now, but that rib hit has to be a major concern, right? Meanwhile, the Bears, despite being 3-2, got absolutely embarrassed last Sunday, losing 31-7 to the Green Bay Packers. Their own starting QB, Caleb Williams, hasn’t played since September 20 due to a hamstring injury, though he’s back in practice. Coach Ben Johnson openly admitted that “a lot of things have gone through our minds” about who will even start for Chicago. Talk about an unsettling feeling for both locker rooms heading into a pivotal game.
The Ground Game Showdown Is Everything
With the passing game shaky for both teams, the answer is literally at their feet. The Bears lead the league in rushing with 173.2 yards per game, powered by D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. But Atlanta is right on their heels, second in the NFL with 166.8 rushing yards per game, thanks to Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson. Penix’s directive to “just keep handing it off” isn’t some complex play call; it’s a statement of absolute necessity. The team that wins this game is the one that trusts its runners the most. Chicago’s Coach Johnson knows his guys need to bounce back from that Packers loss. He says, “That story has yet to be written,” and that his locker room has “a lot of high-quality, character guys” who can fix it. But the Falcons are looking at the same kind of fix, eager to climb back to .500 with their top rushing attack. This isn’t just about moving the chains; it’s about keeping the defense honest and, more importantly, keeping their injured QBs out of trouble.
Homecoming, Injuries, and the Clock
This Sunday’s game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a cool personal storyline too, with Grady Jarrett, the Bears’ defensive tackle and an Atlanta native, returning home after spending his first 10 years with the Falcons. Bijan Robinson is fired up to go up against him for the first time. Game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 18, with the roof closed so weather isn’t a factor. Unfortunately, both teams are dealing with some key injuries. The Bears are missing starting defensive ends Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo. And for Atlanta, it’s all eyes on Penix’s ribs. The numbers lean towards the home team, though. If the Falcons commit to the run, they can control the clock and keep their banged-up QB protected. If they try to force the pass with Penix still nursing a rib issue, well, they probably lose. The choice is really that simple: run the ball. Coach Johnson noted his Bears have “no moping around or woe is me” after their recent losses, and they know it’s a long season. The Falcons feel the exact same way.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply