STORYLINES: Will Hester put on a show for Bears
Can the pass protection hold up against the Bears? The revamped line didn't hold up against the New York Giants and must protect much better against the Bears, who have 11 sacks, which is ranked tied for 11th in the league. Buffalo and the Jets lead the league with 17 sacks. Quarterback Matt Ryan repeatedly bailed out the line, which gave up one sack, eight hits and nine hurries. Willie Young, the Bears' designated pass rusher, leads the team with five sacks.
Will Devin Hester put on a show against the Bears? Hester missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with a hamstring injury, but the Falcons fully expect him to play. Hester played the first eight seasons of his career with the Bears and was "bothered" when they didn't even call him before letting him become a free agent. He'll also get a chance to help in the passing game, with Harry Douglas expected to miss another game.
Can the Falcons defense find a way to frustrate Bears quarterback Jay Cutler? The Bears' enigmatic quarterback had the team off to a 21-7 start against Carolina before he crumbled as the Panthers won 31-24. He had a key overthrow on a pass to Santonio Holmes that was intercepted in the fourth quarter and helped the Panthers off the mat. The Bears were 0-for-3 on third downs in the fourth quarter, had three sacks, 31 yards and fumbled twice as they failed to close out the game.
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
