The Bears beat the Falcons 31–23 in Atlanta, moving to 4–2. The Falcons fell to 2–4.
For the Bears, Caleb Williams went 30-for-36 for 305 yards with 1 touchdown. Roschon Johnson ran for 51 yards on 13 carries and scored a touchdown. Luther Burden III caught 8 passes for 95 yards.
For the Falcons, Michael Penix Jr. went 19-for-33 for 225 yards with 3 touchdowns. Bijan Robinson ran for 61 yards on 9 carries. Jahan Dotson caught 3 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Kyler Gordon (Bears) had 3 sacks.
Recaps are written automatically from the final score and box score: player stats from nflverse (CC BY 4.0).
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams against Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Lineups as listed before kickoff (Bears: Oct 18, 2026, 8:02 AM ET; Falcons: Oct 18, 2026, 8:02 AM ET).
Bears in this game: shotgun 42%, under center 49%, pistol 9% · one back 68%, two backs 18%, empty 13% · motion 57% (76 charted snaps).
As the team lists it: three receivers, one tight end and one running back. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Bears lined him up on most snaps.
LCB#26 C.J. Henderson Out (groin)Next up: Avieon Terrell
SS#3 Jessie Bates IIINext up: DeMarcco Hellams
FS#31 Xavier WattsNext up: Sydney Brown
RCB#21 Mike HughesNext up: Mike Ford Jr.
Two tight ends: the top two receivers stay on the field and the second tight end lines up on the left end. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Bears lined him up on most snaps. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
LCB#26 C.J. Henderson Out (groin)Next up: Avieon Terrell
SS#3 Jessie Bates IIINext up: DeMarcco Hellams
FS#31 Xavier WattsNext up: Sydney Brown
RCB#21 Mike HughesNext up: Mike Ford Jr.
I-formation: two receivers and one tight end, with the quarterback under center and a fullback and running back stacked behind him. Two-back sets: 18% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement. No fullback on the depth chart, so the second tight end, Cole Kmet, is shown at fullback.
LCB#26 C.J. Henderson Out (groin)Next up: Avieon Terrell
SS#3 Jessie Bates IIINext up: DeMarcco Hellams
FS#31 Xavier WattsNext up: Sydney Brown
RCB#21 Mike HughesNext up: Mike Ford Jr.
Four receivers and no tight end: the next receiver on the depth chart comes in. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Bears lined him up on most snaps. Empty-backfield sets: 13% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
LCB#26 C.J. Henderson Out (groin)Next up: Avieon Terrell
SS#3 Jessie Bates IIINext up: DeMarcco Hellams
FS#31 Xavier WattsNext up: Sydney Brown
RCB#21 Mike HughesNext up: Mike Ford Jr.
Defense shown in its base front.
Falcons offense vs Bears defense
Falcons in this game: shotgun 75%, under center 24%, pistol 2% · one back 82%, two backs 11%, empty 7% · motion 33% (55 charted snaps).
As the team lists it: three receivers, one tight end and one running back. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Falcons lined him up on most snaps.
MLB#53 T.J. Edwards Out (hamstring)Next up: Noah Sewell
SLB#48 D'Marco JacksonNext up: Jack Sanborn
LCB#1 Jaylon JohnsonNext up: Josh Blackwell
SS#31 Dillon ThienemanNext up: Elijah Hicks
FS#38 Skyler ThomasNext up: Coby Bryant
RCB#29 Tyrique Stevenson Questionable (hip)Next up: Clark Phillips III
Two tight ends: the top two receivers stay on the field and the second tight end lines up on the left end. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Falcons lined him up on most snaps. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
MLB#53 T.J. Edwards Out (hamstring)Next up: Noah Sewell
SLB#48 D'Marco JacksonNext up: Jack Sanborn
LCB#1 Jaylon JohnsonNext up: Josh Blackwell
SS#31 Dillon ThienemanNext up: Elijah Hicks
FS#38 Skyler ThomasNext up: Coby Bryant
RCB#29 Tyrique Stevenson Questionable (hip)Next up: Clark Phillips III
I-formation: two receivers and one tight end, with the quarterback under center and a fullback and running back stacked behind him. Two-back sets: 11% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement. No fullback on the depth chart, so the second tight end, Charlie Woerner, is shown at fullback.
MLB#53 T.J. Edwards Out (hamstring)Next up: Noah Sewell
SLB#48 D'Marco JacksonNext up: Jack Sanborn
LCB#1 Jaylon JohnsonNext up: Josh Blackwell
SS#31 Dillon ThienemanNext up: Elijah Hicks
FS#38 Skyler ThomasNext up: Coby Bryant
RCB#29 Tyrique Stevenson Questionable (hip)Next up: Clark Phillips III
Four receivers and no tight end: the next receiver on the depth chart comes in. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Falcons lined him up on most snaps. Empty-backfield sets: 7% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.