Falcons must win the battle of third downs against the Bears
When it comes to third down efficiency this season the Atlanta Falcons are almost a top 10 team having converted nearly 41.7 percent of their third downs, however on Sunday, they will be facing a Chicago Bears team which has the second-best defense against the third down as their opponents have only completed 26.00 percent of their third downs.
“The key with this defense is they have to get you to third and medium or long,” senior writer for The Athletic, Kevin Fishbain, said as he joined 92-9 The Game’s Carl Dukes and Mike Bell to preview Sunday’s matchup between the Falcons and Bears. “That is where they can get into their bread and butter schemes,” Fishbain continued as he discussed the Bears third down success defensively.
“What the Packers did last week is destroyed them on first down. Jordan Love had five passes more than 30 yards on first down and what that did was prevented them from getting into these third downs,” Fishbain said, explaining how the Packers were successful in not allowing the Bears defense to take advantage of third down plays for long distance for the line to gain.
“When it’s third and maybe five [yards] or more, Dennis Allen, who you guys know from being in a division with him for a long time, he’s got really crafty schemes on third down,” Fishbain said, noting the Philadelphia Eagles were 2-11 on third down against the Bears and the Jets were 0-7 on third down facing the Bears. While the Packers were 4-14.
“That’s where they won’t to get you because they want to be able to try to stop the run and get you in those third and mediums, third and longs, because then they can really scheme up a way that’s going to confuse quarterbacks and force a punt,” Fishbain said.Third down efficiency will be key for Falcons in Week 6
Third down efficiency will be key for Falcons in Week 6
