Bears beat Falcons 31-23 as Caleb Williams returns with strong passing in Atlanta

Caleb Williams returned from a hamstring injury and completed his first 12 passes, sparking the Chicago Bears to a 31-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta News First reported.

Williams, who had missed three games, finished with 30 completions on 36 attempts for 305 yards and one touchdown, showing both mobility and accuracy in his first game back, according to Atlanta News First.

The Bears built a 31-7 lead before holding off a Falcons comeback attempt in the final quarter. Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon, recently activated from injury, contributed three sacks and two forced fumbles, including a crucial forced fumble late in the game, Atlanta News First noted.

Williams opened the game with a 6-for-6 passing performance on Chicago's opening drive, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland. Loveland finished with a season-high 65 yards on six catches, Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The Bears improved to 4-2 with the win, rebounding from a previous loss to the Packers. Williams' return energized the offense after backup quarterbacks filled in during his absence, according to Atlanta News First.

The Falcons were unable to overcome the early deficit despite a strong late effort, as the Bears' defense made key plays to preserve the lead, Atlanta News First added.