Austin Hooper's 88-yard TD featured a total breakdown by the

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By the time Falcons tight end Austin Hooper pointed skyward and crossed the goal line, so much had gone wrong for the Bears defense. And they had only themselves to blame.

It was a real shame, too. All the fine work they did for three quarters of Sunday's season opener was undermined by one collective breakdown lasting 25 maddening seconds. It resulted in the decisive touchdown in the Bears' 23-17 loss and an example of how razor-thin their margin for error is as they continue to rebuild.

"One play, "can lose the game."," inside linebacker Danny Trevathan said

The stat book reads Hooper caught an 88-yard touchdown from quarterback Matt Ryan on third-and-3 with the Falcons protecting a 13-10 fourth-quarter lead.Authentic Al Woods Jersey

That doesn't detail the calamity.Authentic Rigoberto Sanchez Jersey,

It started before the snap,, as the Falcons broke the huddle. As they got set at the line of scrimmageAuthentic Jon Bostic Jersey, still breaking their huddle trying to get into position.,the Bears were disorganized

With the play clock under five seconds,Authentic Deyshawn Bond Jersey, and he yelled back., rookie safety Eddie Jackson gesticulated to his teammates. Inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman yelled something to Trevathan

Did coach John Fox consider calling timeout in that moment?Authentic Rashaan Melvin Jersey,

"We didn't really think we were in disarray>Authentic Jeremy Vujnovich Jersey," he said. "We didn't realize we were in disarray until he caught the ball."

Hooper, the inside receiver of three on the right side of the formation,womens Matthias Farley Jersey,ran deep down the right seam. Freeman nudged Hooper as he released, no one., passing him off to, as it turned out

The outside receiver, running back Tevin Coleman, and Jackson came down to cover him. Freeman covered him too., ran a shallow cross

Two Bears covering one Falcon, leaving the deep middle completely exposed.

"We had a miscommunication on the call, obviously.","Authentic Matthias Farley Jersey,' Fox said. "The particular call we played was not the call that we had called. But I'm not going to throw people under the bus

The defensive line almost covered up the bust.'womens Jeremy Vujnovich Jersey,, Ryan was pressured and tried to extend the play inside the pocket. He brought the ball partway down, but he finally saw Hooper uncovered near midfield and delivered the throw.

"I swear to God, I felt like I lived a lifetime in my head when the ball was in the air, and I felt like it was like autopilot.womens Al Woods Jersey," Hooper said. "I'm not even kidding — I think I blacked out for like a part of it. And then I caught it

"I was present in the moment, 'Oh,womens Rigoberto Sanchez Jersey,womens Deyshawn Bond Jersey, honestly, I just remember going in the end zone after I stiff-armed somebody and seeing all of my teammates in the end zone. I saw it on a replay, this is pretty cool.'", and it sunk in,and I was like

Yes, the stiff arm. Safety Quintin Demps,womens Rashaan Melvin Jersey, retreated in full emergency mode after Ryan threw the pass., who had rolled coverage toward Falcons receiver Julio Jones on the other side of the field
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He caught up to Hooper at the Bears' 32-yard line with a chance to stop the damage. But Hooper shoved his left arm into Demps' chest and put the veteran safety on his back.

"I've definitely got to make the tackle," Demps said. Authentic Antonio Morrison Jersey,"It was piss-poor football on my part."

The multifaceted breakdown gave the Falcons a 10-point lead they never relinquished. And it left the Bears with a bitter end to a defensive performance that, might have been worthy of victory., without itwomens Jon Bostic Jersey,

"It hurts," defensive end Akiem Hicks said. "It always hurts. You've got to take the hurt and look forward to the day when you're on top."