Bijan Robinson has spent most of the season looking like a problem nobody has solved. The Atlanta Falcons running back leads the NFL with 580 rushing yards, sits third in yards per carry at 5.7, is third in carries with 107, and is tied for eighth in touchdowns with four. He has gone over 100 yards in two of his last three games and has not been held below 72 rushing yards in any outing.
That’s the challenge waiting for the Chicago Bears in Week 6, but this matchup may not tilt as heavily toward Robinson as it has for so many other opponents. Chicago’s run defense has been one of the steadier parts of its season, and on paper it looks built to at least make Robinson work harder than usual.
The Bears are ninth in the league against the run, giving up 96 rushing yards per game. They are one of 11 teams allowing fewer than 100 rushing yards a game.
Even after a rough 31-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the damage mostly came through the air. Chicago gave up more than 350 passing yards in that game, but only 70 rushing yards and just 2.7 yards per carry.
There are still some personnel questions hanging over the Bears’ front seven. Montez Sweat will miss the game because of his two-game suspension.
Dayo Odeyingbo and T.J. Edwards are both dealing with injuries and could be out after sitting out two straight days of practice.
Even with those absences, Chicago has pieces that can make life difficult on the ground. D'Marco Jackson is a capable run defender who can step in for Edwards and line up alongside Devin Bush.
Inside, the Bears can lean on Grady Jarrett and James Lynch to clog things up. On the edge, Austin Booker leads the team with five tackles for loss and has been strong in run support.
Then there’s rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, who has become a real factor in the box while still handling coverage responsibilities. He has 37 tackles and gives Chicago another body that can close quickly and help slow Robinson down.
That doesn’t mean the Bears are about to shut Robinson off entirely. Nobody has done that. But this is one of the better defensive matchups Atlanta has seen all year, and Chicago’s clearest path is to make the Falcons throw the ball more often.
If the Bears can keep Robinson from taking over on the ground, they give themselves a much better shot. For defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, it’s the biggest test of the season so far, especially with multiple starters possibly unavailable. But it also lines up with what should be Chicago’s strength in this matchup, and that is where the Bears need to cash in.
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