Bears fall to Falcons in Atlanta

Fields finished the day as the Bears’ leading rusher with 85 yards on 18 carries and a score while completing 14 of 21 passes for 153 yards and a TD, finishing with an 84.0 rating.

The Falcons took a 7-0 lead on the opening drive as quarterback Marcus Mariota threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to receiver Drake London. Mariota got going early with a 9-yard completion to receiver Olamide Zaccheaus then found tight end Kyle Pitts for a 16-yard gain to reach the Chicago 41. Six plays later on first-and-goal, Mariota scrambled left as linebacker Jack Sanborn and tackle Angelo Blackson chased him down, then found London, who broke open in the left corner of the end zone for the score.

The Bears fired back on their first possession as Fields and Mooney connected for a 16-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7 with 6:02 remaining in the first quarter. Rookie Velus Jones Jr., who returned after being a healthy inactive the last two games, returned the kickoff 55 yards, setting the offense up at the Atlanta 44. After picking up a pair of first downs, Fields dropped back on third-and-8 and hit an open Mooney in the left corner of the end zone.

Safety DeAndre Houston-Carson forced the first takeaway of the game, punching the ball out of running back Avery Willliams’ hands on a punt return at the Atlanta 43. Sanborn recovered the ball at the 41, but the Bears offense was unable to capitalize. On third-and-14, center Sam Mustipher was called for a false start, then Fields was sacked for a loss of 8 yards, bringing out the punt team.

Santos made a 41-yard field goal to extend the Bears lead to 10-7 midway through the second quarter. After Montgomery gained 15 yards to reach midfield, tight end Cole Kmet made a spectacular one-handed grab to haul in a 24-yard pass from Fields, getting the Bears to the Atlanta 27.

On the first play of the Falcons’ next drive, Patterson broke free on a 17-yard run, but safety Jaquan Brisker approached from behind and punched the ball out. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson recovered the fumble at the Atlanta 46 and returned it to the 29.

Seven plays later, Fields ran in a 4-yard touchdown to put the Bears up 17-7 with 4:31 left in the first half. On first-and-goal from the 4, Fields took the snap in shotgun, ran left, the cut back inside to reach the end zone. Earlier in the drive on third-and-6, Fields completed a 10-yard pass to receiver Equanimeous St. Brown to reach the 15.

Patterson quickly made up for his fumble, taking the ensuing kickoff 103 yards…