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The Falcons and Bears have played 27 times overall, and like any good history, it’s got its ups and downs. Today, we’re sticking with positive thoughts, at least for the purposes of this article.
When you think back on all the Falcons - Bears games you’ve seen in your life, which one is your favorite? Drilling down further, which moment of those games is your favorite?
For me, it’s an easy one. On October 12, 2008, the Falcons played the Bears in a game with familiar contours. The Falcons were up 9-0, 12-3, and 19-10 but squandered all those leads, with Kyle Orton throwing a touchdown pass with just 11 seconds left in the game. A pooched kick and a nice Harry Douglas return later, Matt Ryan threw a sideline pass to Michael Jenkins, who got out of bounds with one second on the clock. Jason Elam then booted his 6th field goal of the game—he had missed one earlier in the fourth quarter—to win the game as time expired.
That was the moment, when those Falcons were 4-2 and Ryan had showed the kind of ice-cold ability under pressure we’d come to associate him with, that I really started to think the team might be something special. Remember, 2008 was supposed to be a rebuilding year for a team with a rookie quarterback, but that rookie threw for 300 yards and a touchdown on a day when Michael Turner carried the ball 25 times for 54 yards.
What’s your favorite memory?