Bears Pop Falcons in NFC Bout

After an offseason full of contested contract negotiations, big-name free agent signings and predictions saying the Chicago Bears were due for a fall, quarterback Jay Cutler and company proved that they aren’t ready to hand over the division just yet.

The Bears dominated the Atlanta Falcons in all facets and answered a lot of questions with a 30-12 victory at home on Sunday. The defense didn’t show any signs of age with three takeaways and the offensive line--even with four sacks given up--allowed Cutler a lot of time and was a big factor in his throwing for more than 300 yards.

Whether Roy Williams is a No. 1 receiver or not is still up for debate. Nonetheless, he gives Cutler yet another option in the passing game. While Williams didn’t have a monster game, his big moment came late in the second quarter when he converted a third down with a great catch to set up Robbie Gould’s third field goal.

Cutler found eight different receivers on Sunday and it’s the kind of balance that will be important moving forward.

If there were any questions that Matt Forte deserves his contract extension, he answered them on Sunday. The versatile running back had a total of 158 yards on the ground and through the air, as he provided a huge safety valve for Cutler in the passing game. He made defensive back Dunta Robinson of Atlanta look silly on a long run early in the third quarter.

One of the big stats to watch with the Bears this season is third-down efficiency. Last year, Chicago ranked 27th in converting third downs at a mere 32.8 percent. The Bears were 6-of-16 on Sunday, not a terrific showing by any means, but an improvement over many of the dismal performances Chicago fans were accustomed to last year.

Yet with all the great things the offense provided, the Bears have always been defined by their defense. That half of the team certainly turned in a textbook performance with five sacks, three takeaways and 6 points scored on a fumble deep in Atlanta's end.

Linebacker Brian Urlacher continues to defy his age with a very athletic interception and a hustle play that resulted in the touchdown from the fumble recovery. They flustered quarterback  Matt Ryan and the Falcons rarely challenged the Bears down the field.

The only big play from Atlanta came on a 53-yard run from Michael Turner in the third quarter and the defense still held Falcons to a field goal once they got into the red zone.

It was the turnovers and consistent pressure that put the offense in prime position. On one drive, the Bears started at Atlanta's 30-yard line and got another field goal out of it.

The Bears were left for dead in the offseason with the Packers coming back healthy and the new rule changes that supposedly would hurt Chicago more than most. But the Bears are often at their best when expectations aren’t through the roof. They may not be Super Bowl favorites, but Sunday showed the Bears certainly aren’t playing for 2012.