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| Author: | Cl11234566 [ Tue Dec 24, 2019 3:41 pm ] |
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(SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Bears never quite figured out how to best use the explosive Devin Hester in their offense. The Atlanta Falcons are making it work. Hester gets his first crack at his former team on Sunday as the Falcons host the Bears in a matchup of 2-3 teams at the Georgia Dome. Hester was a second round pick of Chicago in 2006 and set a number of records during his stay with the Bears. That includes 18 kick return touchdowns and 13 punt return touchdowns and he also set franchise marks with 3,241 punt return yards and 5,504 kickoff return yards. Of course, that doesnt include his 92-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI in an eventual loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Hester added 217 catches for 2,807 yards and 14 touchdowns with Chicago, but asked not to play offense last season under new head coach Marc Trestman. He then wasnt offered a contract this past offseason by the Bears and inked a three-year, $9 million deal with Atlanta in March. Its going to be fun, kind of exciting, Hester told the Falcons website of the matchup. Im so used to going against those guys in practice; itll be the first time for me to go against them live. (Ive) been around those guys for a long time; so, its kind of like playing against your brother. Hester was held to just two catches for 16 yards and ran once for another three yards in last Sundays 30-20 loss to the New York Giants. The Falcons led by 10 late in the third quarter before New York reeled off 20 straight points, 13 in the fourth frame. Matt Ryan threw for 316 yards and a touchdown with one interception, while Julio Jones caught 11 passes for 105 yards. Running back Antone Smith added a 74-yard touchdown catch as the Falcons fell to 0-3 on the road this season compared to 2-0 at home. We couldnt get anything going offensively there in the second half and we couldnt get the stops that we needed, Falcons head coach Mike Smith remarked. We are extremely disappointed in the way that the game finished. The same could be said for the Bears in their 31-21 loss to the Carolina Panthers last weekend. Turnovers doomed Chicago as it failed to hold three-point lead with six minutes with less than five minutes to play. Quarterback Jay Cutler was intercepted and the pick was returned 35 yards to the Chicago 32. That set up a game-tying field goal by the Panthers Graham Gano with 4:29 to go and Matt Forte fumbled on the first snap of the resulting possession. Carolina recovered at the Chicago 23, setting up a six-yard go-ahead TD pass for the Panthers with 2:18 to go. Ive got to take accountability for our failure to get things done in the second half, said Chicago head coach Marc Trestman. We didnt have any significant drives and failed to convert third downs. We just didnt get it done. Cutler passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, but was also picked off twice. Forte ran for 61 yards and added 105 receiving on 12 catches. Following their second straight setback, the Bears will play their fourth road game in five weeks. They have won four of six and nine of their last 12 against the Falcons, including a 30-12 win at home in the last meeting in 2011. Cutler threw for 312 yards and two scores, including a 56-yard touchdown pass to Forte, who ended with 158 yards from scrimmage. Ryan had 319 yards passing, but was sacked five times. Chicago remains one victory shy of becoming the first team in NFL history to reach 750 wins. WHAT TO WATCH FOR All eyes will be on Hester and how he torments his former team. He comes in as the only player in the league to post a rushing, receiving and return touchdown this season. While never fully breaking out on offense in Chicago, Hester is third on Atlanta with 14 catches behind only standouts Jones and Roddy White and is also averaging 24.2 yards per kickoff return and 14.4 yards on eight punt returns. I think everybody knows how great a player he is. I dont think theres any question about that. I think the biggest thing is we just have to have a good plan going in for him, said Bears special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis. A lot of people say you cant punt it to him. ... There are a lot of things that go into that. Otherwise, everybody would do it. Hester did not practice on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, but expects to play in this game. Im sure itll be different for Dev this week, said Ryan. Obviously, played a long time in Chicago and has a lot of friends and former teammates that he played with up there, and Im sure thatll probably be on his mind a little bit, but Im think once the ball kicks off and you start playing I think hes such a competitor week-to-week hes going to give you his best regardless. Ryans counterpart, Cutler, will try to shake off another costly turnover. He has thrown 12 touchdown passes on the year, but has been picked off six times and lost a pair of fumbles. Cutler and Trestman know they need to get wide receiver Brandon Marshall involved along with Forte and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. Marshall has five touchdown receptions, but only one in the past three games since hauling in three versus San Francisco in Week 2 despite an ankle injury. He has made just six catches in the past three games, three of those coming versus Carolina for 44 yards. Hes been targeted certainly. But were going to go back and do some work on that to make sure were doing all the right things in that regard, noted Trestman. We targeted him (Sunday). He had a lot of calls and they took it away and Jay did the right thing by going other places. But we want (Marshall) to have more productivity. When he touches the ball good things happen and over the last couple of weeks we havent been able to get that done. Its certainly something we have to continue to work on to get him back involved where he can get more touches that will result in bigger plays. The Falcons have countered a defense that ranks 29th in both total and scoring defense by posting the leagues third-ranked offense at 434.6 yards per game and 30.2 points. Antone Smith has become a big play threat with four touchdowns on the year. He has caught a 54-yard score in addition to his recent 74-yarder and has also found the end zone on the ground from 38 and 48 yards out. Now the back and the rest of the Falcons need to figure out how to translate their home success to road games, but that is a problem best saved for next Sunday in Baltimore. I wish we could figure it out to be more consistent week-to-week, but I think when youre at home, obviously from a communications standpoint its a little bit easier, noted Ryan. Its not quite as loud, and that helps us to a certain extent, but across the board I think home or away we need to be more consistent. OVERALL ANALYSIS The Bears will certainly need to be focused on an energized Hester, but he isnt the biggest concern on the Falcons offense. Smith and Jones have big- play potential and Chicago is giving up 26.2 points and 262.4 yards per game. Atlanta has had its own struggles playing defense, but the secondary needs to only sit back and wait for Cutler to make a mistake in a tough Georgia Dome environment. I think every week is important, certainly when we get back at home I think thats a good thing for us, said Ryan. (Coach Smith) talks about it all the time, we want to be tough and defend the dome every chance that we get. Dont be surprised to see Hester bring the crowd to its feet with some big plays and leave Cutler and company again searching for answers. Sports Network predicted outcome: Falcons 34, Bears 27 . The Canadiens captain, who underwent surgery on his injured biceps in the off-season, had been skating with the team in a non-contact capacity since last week. . - The RBC Canadian Open will return to Glen Abbey Golf Club next year, marking the 27th time that the national open championship will be played at the Oakville, Ont. http://www.salenikeshoesaustralia.com/n ... rance.html. 1 and reigning champion Caroline Wozniacki was among Thursdays third-round winners, while second- seeded Victoria Azarenka pulled out of the draw at the $4. . He made that dream a reality Wednesday night. Olt, who grew up in Branford, Connecticut, attended UConn and made a nearly 2 1-2 hour trek to Boston a handful of times to watch the Red Sox, belted a two-run homer, one of four hit by Cubs in a 16-9 rout that completed a three-game interleague series sweep. . LOUIS -- The St.BOISBRIAND, Que. -- Vladimir Tkachev scored his second goal of the game 16:58 into overtime as the Moncton Wildcats took Game 2 against the host Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 6-5 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. Ivan Barbashev had a goal and three assists for the Wildcats (1-1), who evened their Round 1 matchup at a game apiece, Christopher Caissy scored once and set up two more and Conor Garland and Christophe Lalonde each had a goal and an assist. Nikita Jevpalovs had a hat trick for the Armada (1-1) while Ryan Tesink and Marcus Hinds each scored once. Monctons Alex Dubeau made 41 saves for the win as Blainville-Boisbriands Etienne Marcoux gave up six goals on 26 shots in defeat. --- MOOSEHEADS 6 ISLANDERS 3 HALIFAX -- Danny Moynihan scored twice and Jonathan Drouin and Luca Ciampini each added a goal and two assists as the Mooseheads doubled up Charlottetown for a 1-0 first-round series lead. Nikolaj Ehlers and Andrew Schewfelt had a goal and an assist apiece for Halifax. Anthony Cortese, Alexandre Goulet and Daniel Sprong each had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (0-1). Zachary Fucale made 15 saves for the Mooseheads while Charlottetowns Mason McDonald stopped 45-of-51 shots in defeat. --- HUSKIES 5 REMPARTS 4 (OT) QUEBEC CITY -- Ryan Penny scored 4:11 into overtime and Jeremy Lauzon scored twice in regulation as Rouyn-Noranda slipped past the Remparts to take Game 1 of its Round 1 matchup. Mathieu Lemay had a goal and an assist for the Huskies (1-0) and Jason Fuchs scored the other. Adam Chapman had a pair of goals for Quebec (0-1), Cody Donaghey and Nick Sorensen each scored once and Olivier Archambault tacked on three assists. Rouyn-Norandas Alexandre Belanger made 29 saves for the win as Francois Brassard stopped 30-of-35 shots for the Remparts. --- DRAKKAR 5 CATARACTES 1 BAIE-COMEAU, Que. -- Philippe Cadorette made 27 saves and Robbie Graham scored twice as the Drakkar toppled Shawingan in Game 1 of their first-round tilt. Jeremy Gregoire, Denis Gorbunov and Charles Hudon also scored for Baie-Comeau (1-0) while Valentin Zykov and Alec Jon Banville each chipped in with two assists. Shawinigans Alexis DAoust snapped Cadorettes shutout bid with less than five minutes to play in the third period. Marvin Cupper turned away 33-of-38 shots for the Cataractes (0-1).dddddddddddd --- FOREURS 4 TITAN 1 VAL-DOR, Que. -- Anthony Richard scored late in the first period and then again in the third as the Foreurs took Game 1 in their Round 1 clash against Acadie-Bathurst. Guillaume Gelinas had a goal and assist for Val-dOr (1-0) and Samuel Henley added the other. Aaron Kerr scored the lone goal for the Titan (0-1). Antoine Bibeau made 15 saves for the Foreurs. Acadie-Bathursts Jacon Brennan stopped 38-of-42 shots in defeat. --- OCEANIC 5 SAGUENEENS 3 RIMOUSKI, Que. -- Sebastien Sylvestre scored twice and Philippe Desrosiers only had to make 13 saves as the Oceanic were victorious in Game 1 of their opening round meeting with Chicoutimi. Jimmy Oligny, Samuel Morin and William Couture also scored for Rimouski (1-0) and Alexis Loiseau chipped in with two assists. Janne Puhakka, William Gignac and Domenic Beauchemin scored for the Sagueneens (0-1) while Julio Billia kicked out 36-of-40 shots in a losing cause. Chicoutimis Simon Tremblay was ejected in the second period after receiving a major for checking from behind. --- TIGRES 4 VOLTIGEURS 3 DRUMMONDVILLE, Que. -- Francois Tremblay made 33 saves and Julien Leducs goal 27 seconds into the third period stood up as the winner as Victoriaville edged the Voltigeurs for a 1-0 series lead in Round 1 action. Jonathan Diaby and Yan Pavel Laplante each had a goal and an assist for the Tigres and Cameron Yarwood scored once. Drummondville (0-1) got goals from Matthew Boudens, William Carriere and Olivier Caouette. Louis-Philip Guindon gave up four goals on 18 shots for the Voltigeurs. --- OLYMPIQUES 7 SCREAMING EAGLES 2 GATINEAU, Que. -- Simon Tardif-Richard had three goals and two assists and Martin Reway added two goals and two assists as the Olympiques hammered Cape Breton in Game 1 of their first-round bout. Vaclav Karabacek scored once and set up two more for Gatineau (1-0), Emile Poirier had a single goal and Jean-Simon Deslauriers had three assists. Timothe Simard and Clark Bishop scored for the Screaming Eagles (0-1). Robert Steeves made 18 saves for the Olympiques. Cape Bretons Alex Bureau gave up five goals on 23 shots in 46 minutes of action before Zachary Fortin took over. Fortin stopped 4-of-6 shots in relief. ' ' ' |
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