Sunday marks the start of a new season for the Atlanta Falcons, and arguably one of the most pivotal seasons in the franchise’s history. They’ve only been coming off a Super Bowl berth one other time, as you’ll recall, and they weren’t doing so with a talented, young roster fresh off arguably the most crushing loss in NFL history.
How Atlanta responds this year will determine whether they’re seen as the kind of perennial contender the Patriots, Steelers, Packers, and Seahawks have been for most of the last decade, or whether they’ll simply be the latest team to have a magnificent season and fall back by the wayside. Many expect them to fail, at least outside of Atlanta.
A win against the Chicago Bears won’t prove they’re in business—for all the poor luck they suffered with turnovers a year ago, Chicago is obviously several great players short of being a true contender—but it will start the season off right and show the Falcons can handle a solid enough football team. Any road win is a good win, and every win strikes a blow against the narrative of the Falcons as a team that will inevitably fade away.
Only two days to go! Here’s the essential information you’ll need.
Falcons @ Bears Week 1 key info
Time: Sunday, September 10, 1:00 p.m. EST
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
TV Channel: FOX
Announcers: Booth: Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis. Sideline: Pam Oliver
Radio: 92.9 The Game
Odds: The Falcons are touchdown favorites
Prediction: Falcons win, 31-20
SB Nation Opposition Site: Windy City Gridiron
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