Gordon and Bears special teams turn Atlanta's mistakes into a 31-23 win

Atlanta recovered enough offense to make Sunday uncomfortable for Chicago. It could not recover the possessions lost on special teams, or the ball Kyler Gordon knocked free when the Falcons finally had a chance to tie the game.

The Bears won 31-23 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with two fumbles by returner Zachariah Branch helping them build a 31-7 lead. Gordon's third sack forced Michael Penix Jr. to fumble late in the fourth quarter, and Devin Bush's recovery let Chicago run out the clock.

Chicago improved to 4-2 with Caleb Williams back after three missed games because of a hamstring injury. Williams completed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown. His opening 12 passes were all complete.

A return mistake changes the half

The Falcons were down 14-7 when their defense forced a punt late in the second quarter. Penix had just found Jahan Dotson for a 13-yard touchdown after a 39-yard completion to Drake London put Atlanta in scoring position.

Branch called for a fair catch, muffed the punt and watched Josh Blackwell recover it at the Atlanta 10. Three plays later, D'Andre Swift scored his second touchdown of the half from two yards out.

Chicago's official clip shows Swift finishing the short drive that sent the Bears to halftime ahead 21-7:

The Falcons had already spent much of the half defending. Their offense managed 97 yards and four first downs before the break, according to Atlanta's official game report. Chicago controlled possession for 22:13 of the first 30 minutes.

Roschon Johnson's 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter extended the lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Zavier Scott stripped Branch and Nick McCloud recovered at the Atlanta 31. Cairo Santos' 50-yard field goal made it 31-7 early in the fourth.

Gordon ends the late escape attempt

Penix then threw two touchdown passes to Kyle Pitts and completed both two-point attempts. A Johnson fumble gave Atlanta the short field for the second score, and the Falcons were within eight with 5:41 to play.

Gordon stopped the comeback with the strip-sack captured in Chicago's official video:

Activated from the physically unable to perform list Saturday, Gordon finished his first game of the season with three sacks and two forced fumbles. The Bears recovered three Atlanta fumbles overall. The Falcons converted three of 12 third downs and failed on all three fourth-down attempts.

Williams' return gave Chicago consistent passing production, including eight completions to Luther Burden III for 95 yards. The Bears still left room for the comeback through 12 penalties for 133 yards and Johnson's turnover.

Atlanta dropped to 2-4 and hosts San Francisco next Sunday. Chicago has a shorter turnaround, with New England visiting Soldier Field on Thursday night.