Atlanta Falcons Game Recap: Falcons escape Chicago with a 23-17 Win
It wasn’t Pretty but somehow, someway, the Atlanta Falcons escape by the Chicago Bears with a win over the Bears to start 1-0.
It wouldn’t be an Atlanta Falcons game without them stressing out up until the final minute. Yet, somehow, someway, they found a way to escape Chicago with a win.
The win over the Chicago Bears, to start the Falcons off 1-0, gives the Falcons a much needed confidence boost to avoid the dreaded Super Bowl Hangover.
Though it wasn’t a pretty performance, the offense made just enough big plays to give the Falcons the win. Quarterback Matt Ryan put together a solid performance going 21-of-30 for 321 yards and one touchdown for a quarterback rating of 116.1.
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In what was arguably one of the many big plays of the game, Ryan hit second-year tight end Austin Hooper for an 88 yard touchdown pass to give the Falcons a 20-10 lead with 11:55 in the forth quarter.
However, the Bears would not go away.
Rookie running back, Tarik Cohen, who put together an outstanding performance. He was able to capitalize on his big night when he scored on a 19-yard pass from Mike Glennon to cut the Falcons lead to 20-17 with 7:26 to go.
The Falcons later answered back with 37-yard field goal from Matt Bryant with 3:24 to go.
But the Bears kept driving and even got within five-yards of getting a game winning touchdown, giving Falcons fans bad memories from the last time they were in situation in February. In the end, defensive end Brooks Reid made the big game winning sack to give the Falcons a 23-17 victory.
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The Falcons will now focus on the NFC Championship rematch with the Green Bay Packers, in what will be the official opening of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of a nationally televised audience.