Ben Johnson gets quarterback Caleb Williams back after missing three weeks with a hamstring injury and the Bears appear to be "all good" once again.
"He (Caleb) came in my office early on in the week and kind of alluded to 'man, I kind of want to push this thing and see where we're at." Johnson said.
"He did a great job downloading the gameplan and sure enough he was finding some open guys and delivering good footballs, so, I'm proud of him."
The Bears bounce back from an ugly loss in Green Bay, taking a 31-7 lead and holding on to win in Atlanta 31-23. With a large crowd of loud Bears fans behind them, the visitors dominated in time of possession 40:08-19:52 ...total yards 368-257 ...and win turnover battle 3-1.
Williams 30 of 36, 305 yards passing, 1 TD (Colston Loveland), 0 interceptions, 8.5 yards/attempt, QB Rating 111.2.
"After a 60 minute game I feel pretty good, hamstring feels good." Williams said, after showing no signs of lingering hamstring issues.
"No stiffness. No tightness. So I'm feeling good and excited about that. I've got to get back and let the adrenaline settle down and figure out how I feel after that."
He completed two or more throws to eight different Bears pass-catchers.
"That's something I've been preaching all week to my guys, 'when I get back I'm going to give you a shot with this ball in the air you just got to go make it.'" Williams said.
"I think the guys did a good job of that today. Colston right there (on tight window TD grab). Luther at a big point in the game, on an out-breaker he went up and got the ball and got hit right after. Rome, same thing on a third and long he went up and got the ball made a great catch. It's that type of energy, mentality, attitude- 'when the ball is in the air it's theirs.'"
With Kyle Monangai out with a sprained toe again, the Bears number-one ranked running game gets a combined 95 yards and three touchdowns from Roschon Johnson and D'Andre Swift.
Cairo Santos made a field goal from 50 yards and missed from 56 yards. 4-4 on extra points.
On defense, nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon makes a huge impact in his season debut- 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles in his season debut. Ben Johnson shared details of an important chat he had with Gordon early last week.
"I think we want to activate you. Are you ready to go? And he said absolutely." Johnson said.
"And he sure enough was. A huge spark for us there on the defense. I think DA (defensive coordinator Dennis Allen) put him in some good spots."
Gordon was slow to return from a calf injury, but quick to get back in the good graces of Johnson and the coaching staff by sticking to the gameplan.
"I just kept doing the same disguises." Gordon said.
"Toying with the lineman, the QB, the running back, getting their eyes off where its (blitz) is coming from. I just got off the line quick. And that's what I felt like I was doing it the whole game."
Gordan and the Bears defense limits Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson to 61 yards, 55 yards below his average, on 9 carries.
WR Jahdae Walker got ejected for head-butting an Atlanta player.
Right guard Jonah Jackson left the game with a hip injury in the third quarter.
Williams is determined to treat his hamstring right the rest of the season.
"Long days of treatment. Studying film while I'm getting treatment. All of that." Williams said.
"It's just another thing that's added to my day throughout the weeks. It is going to be like that for the rest of the year. Just making sure I'm on top of it."
While the Bears were emptying the bench late in the game the penalties piled up to a ten year high- 12 flags for 133 yards.
Short turn-around. The Bears won't practice this week, just rest and rehab Monday, walk-through Tuesday, off Wednesday before hosting the Patriots Thursday night at Soldier Field.The Bears are about a field goal favorite over New England.
Defensive end Montez Sweat will serve the second of his two game suspension Thursday night. The NFL said he failed a test for performance enhancing substances.
