ATLANTA — Caleb Williams completed his first 12 passes in his return from a hamstring injury, D’Andre Swift scored two rushing touchdowns, and the Chicago Bears (4-2) defeated the Atlanta Falcons (2-4) 31-23 on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Bears built a commanding 31-7 lead before holding off a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by the Falcons.
Bears Beat Falcons’ Late Rally for 31-23 Win as Caleb Williams Returns
Chicago controlled the clock with roughly 40 minutes of possession to Atlanta’s 20, while forcing key turnovers that limited the home team’s chances.
Williams, who missed three games, looked sharp and mobile. He finished 30-of-36 for 305 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. On Chicago’s opening drive, he went 6-of-6 for 64 yards, capped by a 14-yard scoring pass to tight end Colston Loveland. He remained perfect through his first 12 attempts (142 yards) before an incompletion in the second quarter.
Swift punched in short touchdowns from 4 and 2 yards. Roschon Johnson added a 4-yard rushing score in the third quarter, and Cairo Santos connected on a 50-yard field goal early in the fourth to push the lead to 31-7. The Bears’ ground game and efficient passing kept drives alive, even as Chicago was flagged for 12 penalties totaling 133 yards.
Atlanta’s Michael Penix Jr., returning after leaving the previous week’s overtime loss to Baltimore with a rib injury, threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns on 19-of-33 passing. He connected with Jahan Dotson on a 13-yard score in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 14-7.
In the fourth, he found Kyle Pitts for a 10-yard touchdown (with a two-point conversion to Zachariah Branch) and later a 5-yard score (two-point conversion to Drake London), trimming the margin to 31-23.
The Falcons’ rally was fueled in part by a Roschon Johnson fumble that set up one of the late scores. However, turnovers and special-teams miscues hurt Atlanta earlier: Branch lost a fumble on a fair-catch attempt late in the first half (giving Chicago the ball at the Atlanta 10) and another on a kickoff return. Penix was sacked five times.
Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon, activated from the physically unable to perform list after a calf injury, made a major impact with three sacks and two forced fumbles. His biggest play came with 2:54 remaining, when he sacked Penix and forced a fumble recovered by Devin Bush at the Atlanta 28. Chicago then ran out the clock inside the 5-yard line.
Scoring summary (approximate)
- 1st: Loveland 14-yard pass from Williams (Santos kick); Swift 4-yard run (Santos kick) — CHI 14-0
- 2nd: Dotson 13-yard pass from Penix (Folk kick); Swift 2-yard run (Santos kick) — CHI 21-7 at half
- 3rd: Johnson 4-yard run (Santos kick) — CHI 28-7
- 4th: Santos 50-yard field goal; Pitts 10-yard pass from Penix (2-pt); Pitts 5-yard pass from Penix (2-pt) — Final CHI 31-23
Other notables included Luther Burden III (8 catches, 95 yards) for Chicago and strong efforts from Bijan Robinson (9 carries, 61 yards) and Drake London for Atlanta. A scary moment occurred when Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels was carted off with a neck injury after a helmet-first tackle; he was reported alert with movement in all extremities and was being evaluated at a local hospital.
The win gives Ben Johnson’s Bears a boost after a recent loss and keeps them in the mix in the NFC North. For Kevin Stefanski’s Falcons, the home defeat (now 0-3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium) underscores ongoing challenges with consistency and ball security despite a competitive late push.
Chicago hosts New England on Thursday night. Atlanta hosts San Francisco next Sunday.