Late push cannot erase early deficit
The Falcons left themselves too much ground to recover in a 31-23 loss to the Chicago Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 6. Atlanta scored 16 points in the fourth quarter after entering the period down 28-7, but its second straight defeat dropped its record to 2-4. Chicago established control with a 14-0 first quarter. Both teams scored seven points in the second, and the Bears added seven more in the third while holding Atlanta scoreless. That left the Falcons facing a 21-point deficit before their strongest scoring quarter. The Bears improved to 4-2, rebounding from a 31-7 loss to Green Bay. Atlanta has followed its 45-24 win over New Orleans with losses to Baltimore and Chicago.
Williams and Chicago's backs lead the way
Caleb Williams completed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown. Luther Burden III caught all eight of his targets for 95 yards, while Colston Loveland supplied six catches for 65 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. Chicago also received three rushing touchdowns from its backfield. D'Andre Swift scored twice on 16 carries for 44 yards and added four receptions for 26 yards. Roschon Johnson carried 13 times for 51 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 34 yards. Williams' passing efficiency and the backs' scoring production gave Chicago enough offense to withstand Atlanta's late surge.
Pitts scores twice for Atlanta
Michael Penix Jr. finished 19-of-33 for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Kyle Pitts Sr. caught two of those scores, finishing with five receptions for 60 yards on seven targets. Jahan Dotson delivered Atlanta's other receiving touchdown and led the Falcons with 87 receiving yards on three catches. Drake London drew 10 targets, the most among Atlanta's listed receivers, but finished with four catches for 62 yards. Bijan Robinson gained 61 yards on nine carries. His two receptions totaled minus-8 yards, limiting his overall production despite averaging 6.8 yards per rushing attempt.
Fantasy returns favor touchdown scorers
Penix led the game's PPR scoring with 23.1 points, narrowly ahead of Swift and Pitts at 23.0 apiece. Pitts' two touchdowns drove a strong fantasy finish, while Swift paired his two rushing scores with four catches. Loveland produced 18.5 PPR points, followed by Dotson at 17.7 and Burden at 17.5. Burden's eight catches supplied value without a touchdown. London finished with 12.2 points despite his 10 targets, while Robinson's limited receiving production left him at 7.3.
Another home game awaits
The Falcons host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7 on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. ET. Chicago returns home to face the New England Patriots on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8:15 p.m. ET.