Caleb Williams is back. So is the Chicago Bears’ explosive offense. The Bears quarterback returned Sunday for his first appearance since suffering a hamstring strain in Week 2. He got off to the best start of his career and led Chicago to a 31-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The Bears opened up a 31-7 lead in Atlanta and appeared to be headed for a blowout. They ended up needing that cushion to fend off a late Falcons comeback that cut the Bears’ lead to one possession. Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA season. Williams got off to an excellent start and completed his first 12 passes of the game. The completion streak was the longest of his career to start a game and quickly dispelled any concerns that he would be limited in any way by his hamstring injury. Caleb Williams looked great in his return from a hamstring injury. (Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images) Williams led the Bears to a touchdown on each of their first two possessions. And his first touchdown in his return to game action was sensational. With the Bears on second-and-13 from the Atlanta 14-yard line, Williams escaped the pass rush and rolled to his right. He threw a throw back against his body to tight end Colston Loveland, who was surrounded by a pair of defenders. But Loveland was the only player to get his hands on the ball and haul it in for a touchdown. It was the kind of high-risk, high-reward play that became a staple of Williams’ standout second season in 2025. And it sure put a smile on the faces of Bears fans who needed one after last week’s 31-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers. From there, Williams continued his outstanding play. He finished Sunday completing 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards with 1 touchdown and no turnovers. And he helped ice the game by leading a time-consuming drive after Atlanta scored 16 straight points to cut Chicago’s lead to 31-23. The Bears were able to take a knee in the red zone to secure the victory. Important win to stay on pace in the competitive NFC North With the win, the Bears improve to 4-2 to remain competitive in the NFC North race. And the initial panic that Williams had suffered a potentially devastating injury in Week 2 has come full circle. Williams is back and looking great. As a team, the Bears outscored the Falcons 368 to 257. While Chicago’s yardage total was unsurprising, the Bears dominated the ball with a 40:08 to 19:52 advantage in time of possession. Luther Burden III had his best game of the season with eight receptions for 95 yards. Loveland also had his best game of the season, adding 6 receptions for 65 yards and 1 touchdown. It was an important win for Chicago with tough upcoming games against last season’s Super Bowl participants, the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. They remain in second place in the NFC North behind the Minnesota Vikings (5-0), who have a bye week. The Detroit Lions (3-2) are also on a bye week, while the Packers (3-2) will play the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Meanwhile, the Falcons fall to 2-4 and 0-3 at home on quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s return from a rib injury suffered late in Week 5. Backup running back Roschon Johnson broke off an eight-yard run late, but as he ran into the end zone, he fell to keep the clock running. Chicago held on for a 31-23 victory over Atlanta as Caleb Williams returned. for a loss of 8 and fumbled. The Bears defense rallied. Sunday, October 18, 2026 08:06 pm UTCTeddy Ricketson After Atlanta’s latest touchdown drive, Chicago is getting the ball back. The Bears defense forced a three-and-out. The Falcons will have approximately 3 1/2 minutes to find the end zone and convert another two-point conversion. Sunday, October 18, 2026 08:01 pm UTCTeddy RicketsonChicago had a 16-point lead and needed to take as much time off the clock as possible. Backup running back Roschon Johnson and the Falcons rallied. Atlanta then drove down the field and Kyle Pitts scored his second touchdown of the day five plays later. Penix hit Drake London for the two-point conversion. Suddenly, Atlanta was behind by 8 with 5:41 left. Sunday, October 18, 2026 07:51 pm UTCTeddy Ricketson The Falcons still have life. 10 yard score. Atlanta then attempted a two-point conversion and was successful. The Falcons trail the Bears 31-15 with 9:34 left in the game. Sunday, October 18, 2026 07:39 pm UTCTeddy Ricketson The Falcons faced fourth-and-10 at their own 34-yard line down 31-7. Michael Penix hit Zachariah Branch for a gain of five, and the Falcons were penalized for offensive holding. The penalty was waved away and Chicago took control on the Atlanta side of the field with 14:32 left and up 24. The Bears offense simply took time off the clock and ended with Cairo Santos scoring a 50-yard field goal. Chicago leads 31-7 entering the fourth quarter. Sunday, October 18, 2026 07:25 pm UTC Teddy Ricketson Chicago extends its lead to 21 on a short rushing touchdown by Roschon Johnson. With the injury delay, this game still has 1:48 left in the third quarter. 18, 2026 07:19 PM UTCTeddy RicketsonBijan Robinson had four total yards on two carries. Michael Penix was sacked and fumbled. The Falcons were able to get it back, but facing fourth and 13 from their own 3, they had to punt. Chicago leads 21-7 with 4:38 left in the third quarter. Sunday, October 18, 2026 07:15 pm UTCTeddy Ricketson Great play by Colston Loveland, but he was called for offensive pass interference. The play was a fourth-down attempt, but after the extra yards were added, Chicago opted to punt. The Bears lead 21-7 with 6:07 left. Sunday, October 18, 2026 07:09 pm UTCTeddy RicketsonThere was a serious injury in the Bears-Falcons game. Kendal Daniels reportedly knelt on the helmet. Daniels was ruled out due to a neck injury. Sunday, October 18, 2026 06:58 pm UTCTeddy Ricketson The Falcons benefited from a new series of opportunities after a roughing penalty on the kicker. Atlanta couldn’t do anything with it. Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski watched his team face fourth-and-3, down 21-7, at the Bears’ 28-yard line. Stefanski opted to go for it, but Michael Penix had an incomplete pass to Drake London and Atlanta fumbled. Sunday, October 18, 2026 06:52 pm UTCTeddy Ricketson It looked like Atlanta was going to start the second half with a punt. Chicxago was then called for roughing the kicker on the punt attempt and was awarded 15 yards, which was enough for a first down. Sunday, October 18, 2026 06:34 pm UTC Teddy Ricketson Atlanta ran just four official plays, but penalties forced the Falcons into a 3rd-and-20 situation. A 17-yard run by Bijan Robinson failed to produce another series of downs, and Atlanta punted back to the Bears just before halftime. Chicago did nothing with the extra possession and simply took the game to halftime. clearance. Chicago ran three plays, the final being a two-yard touchdown by D’Andre Swift, his second of the game. The Bears now lead 21-7 with 1:26 left in the first half. Sunday, October 18, 2026 06:20 PM UTCTeddy Ricketson It looked like Atlanta was going to get a chance for a two-minute drill before halftime. The Bears were able to get it back at the 10-yard line. Sunday, October 18, 2026 06:05 pm UTC Teddy Ricketson’s Atlanta offense has finally put up some points. After Drake London’s big gain set up the offense, Michael Penix Jr. hit Jahan Dotson, who had an impressive contested catch for the 13-yard score. The Falcons now trail 14-7 with 5:45 left in the first half. Sunday, October 18, 2026 06:02 pm UTCTeddy Ricketson enters the red zone. Sunday, October 18, 2026 05:59 pm UTC Teddy Ricketson Chicago scored consecutive touchdowns to start the game, but they have now had consecutive drives that ended with no punts. The Bears’ most recent drive lasted five plays and the offense gained just 18 yards before attempting a 56-yard field goal. Cairo Santos’ attempt went wide to the left. Sunday, October 18, 2026 17:51 UTCTeddy RicketsonWell, you spoke too soon. Chicago’s defense took a big step forward. After Robinson’s big gain, Michael Penix had an incomplete pass, a six-yard completion to Kyle Pitts, and then Bijan Robinson lost a yard. Atlanta head coach Kevin Stefanski opted to go for it on fourth-and-five, but Penix’s pass was hit at the line for a turnover on the downs.
