Bears beat Falcons 31-23 as Williams returns

The Chicago Bears defeated the Atlanta Falcons 31-23 on October 18, 2026, holding off a late rally after building a 24-point lead as quarterback Caleb Williams returned from a three-game absence. Williams completed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown in his first game back from a hamstring injury. He completed his first 12 passes, helping Chicago score touchdowns on its opening two possessions. D’Andre Swift ran for two touchdowns, and Roschon Johnson also scored on the ground. Chicago led 31-7 before Atlanta mounted its comeback in the fourth quarter. Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw touchdown passes to Kyle Pitts twice, then connected with Drake London for a two-point conversion that cut the margin to eight. The rally followed a fumble by Johnson that gave Atlanta another opportunity. The Bears stopped the comeback when Kyler Gordon sacked Penix and forced a fumble late in the game. Devin Bush recovered the ball at Atlanta’s 28-yard line, and Chicago picked up first downs to run out the clock. Gordon, returning to the lineup, recorded three sacks and forced two fumbles, according to the game report. Atlanta’s Zachariah Branch lost two fumbles, including...