Bears and Falcons TV, Radio, Streaming, Betting
Atlanta Falcons (7-8) at Chicago Bears (6-9)
When: Noon, Sunday
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago
TV: CBS (Chris Lewis, Jason McCorty, Ross Tucker/Amanda Renner)
Streaming: fubo TV (free trial)
Radio: ESPN AM-1000, FM-100.3 (Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, Jason McKie), SiriusXM (Channel 81 or 228)
Spanish Radio: Latino Mix 93.5 (Omar Ramos, Miguel Esparza)
The Line: Bears by 3 (Over/under 37 1/2)
The Matchup: Two teams barely alive in the playoff hunt and facing elimination Sunday whether they win or not. The Bears are out with a loss or if they win and both Seattle and the Rams win. There are some other more remote ways they're eliminated despite a win. The Falcons have gone back to Taylor Heinicke at quarterback over Desmond Ridder and will be eliminated with a loss to the Bears and a Tampa Bay win or tie. Like the Bears, they can also be eliminated even if they win. It would happen if the Rams, Seattle and Tampa Bay win.
The Series: The 30th game in a series that began with Atlanta's entry in the league in 1966. The Bears lead the series 15-14. The teams have split the last eight games and Atlanta won last year in Atlanta 27-24. The Falcons won the last game in Chicago, 23-17 in the 2017 opener.
The Coaches: Falcons coach Arthur Smith is 31-28 in his third season and is 1-0 against the Bears. Bears coach Matt Eberflus is 9-23 in his second season and 0-1 against Smith and the Falcons.
Last Week: The Falcons benched Ridder and went to Heinicke and it helped as he posted a 99.2 passer rating, threw for a touchdown and 229 yards in convincing 29-10 win over Indianapolis. The Bears got out to a 21-0 lead with Justin Fields throwing for a TD and running one in, then held off a Cardinals rally in a 27-16 win.
Notable: Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and Bears running back Roschon Johnson were teammates together for Texas, Robinson as starter and Johnson as his backup. ... The Bears lead the NFL in explosive runs, those of 10 yards or more, with 69 (Baltimore, San Francisco 69). ... In first quarters, the Bears are No. 1 in the NFL in yards per completion (12.9), third in first downs (76) and seventh in yards per rush (5.2). ... Fields has pulled into second in the NFL for rushing amount QBs with 585. He passed up Jalen Hurts (576) last week and trails just Lamar Jackson (786). ... The Bears are second in the NFL in rushing and first in run defense. They are coming in off a season-high 250 yards rushing. ... Robinson has set the franchise record for receptions by a running back with 48. ... Robinson's 1,246 yards from scrimmage rank second among all rookies, behind only Rams WR Puka Nacua (1,397). ... LT Jake Matthews has started 159 straight games, a franchise record and the longest active streak in the NFL. ... Atlanta's defense is holding opposing offenses to 33.7% conversions on third downs, third-best percentage in the league. ... Falcons safety Jessie Bates is tied for second in the league in interceptions with six and has the most among safeties.
Betting Trends
- The Falcons are 5-10 against the spread this season
- The Falcons are 2-5 ATS on the road
- The Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last five overall
- It's been under the total in 10 of Atlanta's 15 games and four of the last five
- It's been under the total in six of the Bears' last eight games
- The Falcons are 1-5 ATS against the Bears in the last five matchups
- Atlanta is 2-11 straight up in its last 13 road games
- Atlanta has lost its last five ATS against the Bears at Soldier Field
- It's been under the total in eight of Atlanta's last nine December games
- It's been over the total in 10 of the Bears' last 15 December games
Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven
