Bears quarterback Caleb Williams played today for the first time since his Week 2 hamstring injury, and he was everything the Bears could hope for.
Williams was nearly flawless early on as the Bears jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead over the Falcons, and by the time the Bears led 31-7 in the fourth quarter, it looked like garbage time.
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix, however, attempted to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, and with two touchdown passes to Kyle Pitts followed by two two-point conversions, it was 31-23 and a one-possession game. There was no scoring after that, however, and the 31-23 score was the Bears’ final margin of victory.
Bears wide receiver Luther Burden had a particularly big game, catching all eight passes thrown to him for 95 yards. And while running back D’Andre Swift was bottled up for most of the game, he did have two short touchdown runs. Roschon Johnson also ran for a touchdown, and at the end of the game he wisely eschewed a touchdown and just went down after picking up a first down so the Bears could run out the clock.
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson played well when he got the ball, with nine carries for 61 yards, but the Falcons were playing for behind so much that they largely abandoned the running game. Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch had a disastrous game, losing two fumbles.
The win improves the Bears’ record to 4-2, and as long as Williams stays healthy, they’re NFC North contenders. The Falcons fall to 2-4.