No one should doubt that the predators in this matchup were the Chicago Bears. All doubters that they’re contenders in the NFC should consider Sunday’s rout of the Falcons as their opening statement.
Game Story:
Brian Urlacher had an interception and returned a fumble for a touchdown, Jay Cutler threw for 312 yards and two scores and the Bears pounded Matt Ryan and the Falcons 30-12.
“Big for us,” receiver Roy Williams said. “Big confidence booster for us as a football team. We knew what we can do offensively. We knew what we can do defensively. But to put it together, especially against a good football team in Atlanta, shows what kind of football team we have.”
In a matchup between reigning division champions, it was no contest. This one clearly belonged to Chicago.
“Disappointed, not discouraged,” Atlanta coach Mike Smith said. “It’s a long season, it’s Week 1. We will work to get this fixed and we will get it fixed.”
A lunging Urlacher picked off Ryan’s pass to set up an early 56-yard touchdown catch and run by Matt Forte. In the third quarter, the linebacker picked up a fumble by Ryan and scored from 12 yards to make it 30-6.
The fumble came on one of two sacks by Julius Peppers. Henry Melton also had two sacks and the Bears totaled five for the day.
Cutler completed 22 of 32 passes and was intercepted once in his first game at Soldier Field since the Bears’ loss to Green Bay in the NFC championship. He left that game with a knee injury and was roundly criticized.
Game Highlights: Watch highlights of the Bears 30-12 win over the Falcons in Week 1.
