The Falcons have a chance to set the tone for a season full of expectations against a very tough and determined opponent in the Chicago Bears — a team that has its own expectations for 2011. Both teams were strong presences in the NFC last year, and it’s looking like they will do the same this year, so it’s only fitting that their 2011 campaigns start off with what will likely be a physical matchup at Soldier Field.

Bears 30, Falcons 12

Sunday, September 11, 2011 – Soldier Field

Pregame Coverage

• Your Falcons-Bears Cheat Sheet: Download the one-page game primer (PDF)
• Starters and Inactives for Sunday’s game
• Piedmont Healthcare Injury Report
• Falcons producers on Twitter: Jay Adams | Dan Levak | Daniel Cox | More Falcons players, cheerleaders and personalities on Twitter
• The Atlanta Falcons official Facebook fan page
• Quick Hits: Video clips of the events and atmosphere surrounding gameday
• Monitor all of the ongoing updates

In-Game Coverage

• Join in the discussion about today’s game on the official gameday thread on the FalconsLIFE Message Board
• Stats and Play-by-Play
• Ongoing Game Day Photo Stream

Postgame Coverage

• Falcons First Take: Mike Smith | Matt Ryan | Michael Turner | John Abraham | Kroy Biermann
• Video: Falcons postgame news conference
• Taco Mac Video: Ready for kickoff | Lindsey Thiry checks in at halftime
• Fast Five: Jay Adams provides his five takeaways from Sunday’s game
• All Wrapped Up: Daniel Cox breaks down the important components of the game
• Notes and Milestones: Falcons at Bears
• Transcript: Mike Smith Postgame News Conference
• Can’t Miss Plays: Biermann Delivers

Broadcast Information

• TV: The Falcons-Bears game will be broadcast live on FOX beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET.
• RADIO: STAR 94 (FM) and 790 The Zone (AM) in Atlanta | Affiliate stations throughout the southeastern US

More Falcons-Bears Coverage:

• Sound Bytes: Mike Smith (Thursday) | Mike Smith (Wednesday) | Mike Smith (Monday) | Matt Ryan | Tony Gonzalez | Mike Mularkey | Brian VanGorder | Keith Armstrong | Ovie Mughelli | Darrin Walls | Garrett Reynolds | Kelvin Hayden | More Sound Bytes
• NFL Network: Falcons vs. Bears Preview
• FalconCast: AtlantaFalcons.com’s Jay Adams and Daniel Cox discuss the keys to Sunday’s game
• Blog: Fan ‘Free Agent’ picks Falcons
• Blog: Falcons display motivation on a T-shirt
• Behind the Facemask: running back Michael Turner
• Notebook: Falcons talk about stopping Matt Forte, dropping Devin Hester and no longer flying under the radar
• Ovie’s World: Ovie Mughelli blogs about heading to Chicago
• Time Machine: Falcons have cold memories from last trip to Chicago
• What’s Brewin’: Lindsey Thiry goes one-on-one with Roddy White
• Blog: Do the Falcons have the best cornerback tandem in the NFL?
• Notebook: Falcons prepare for Chicago run defense, Tony Gonzalez talks retirement, Julio Jones isn’t nervous
• Ask the Expert: New York Times’ Judy Battista
• Blog: James Sanders gets his second chance
• Story: Falcons Announce Falcons Mobile 2011 Smartphone App
• Story: Polar Team2 Pro Solution is the Official Heart Rate Training System for Falcons
• Blog: Antone Smith looks to have both feet in the Falcons roster
• Blog: Julio Jones deals with great expectations
• Transcripts: Mike Smith (Thursday) | Mike Smith (Wednesday) | Mike Smith (Monday) | Matt Ryan