Chicago Bears beat Atlanta Falcons 31-23 as Caleb Williams returns
ATLANTA Caleb Williams completed his first 12 passes in his return from a three-game absence and the Chicago Bears beat the Atlanta Falcons 31-23 on Oct. 18, 2026. Williams had been sidelined for three games and returned to lead the Bears to the victory. The win moved Chicago to 4-2 on the season, while Atlanta fell to 2-4 and 0-3 at home.
The Bears built an early advantage with a mix of passing and rushing scores. Colston Loveland caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Williams, and D’Andre Swift recorded rushing touchdowns of 4 and 2 yards. Roschon Johnson added a third-quarter 4-yard rushing touchdown, and Cairo Santos converted a 50-yard field goal that helped push Chicago to 31 points.
The Falcons rallied late with two fourth-quarter touchdown catches by Kyle Pitts Sr., both thrown by Michael Penix Jr. Each score was followed by a two-point conversion, with Penix finding Zachariah Branch on the first attempt and Drake London on the second. The comeback fell short as the Bears held on for the eight-point win.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Williamss efficient start provided an immediate spark for the Chicago offense and allowed the Bears to establish control early in the game. Atlanta showed resilience with a late surge led by Michael Penix Jr. and Kyle Pitts Sr., but the Falcons could not erase the early deficit. The result leaves Chicago with momentum as the team moves deeper into the season, while Atlanta must regroup after a home loss.