NFL · Oct 18, 2026
CHI beats ATL 31–23 as D. Swift scores twice and D. Bush recovers late fumble
By Row Seventeen ·
Chicago Bears beat Atlanta Falcons 31–23 (NFL) on October 18, 2026.
CHI defeated ATL 31–23 in NFL action on October 18, 2026, with D. Bush's fourth-quarter fumble recovery ending an ATL possession after two late touchdowns.
31–23FINAL
Key moments
Sources ↓- Opening
CHI scored the first two touchdowns at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, beginning with C. Williams' 14-yard touchdown pass to C. Loveland with 8:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Read in context ↘ - Middle stages
ATL got on the board with 5:49 remaining in the second quarter when M. Penix threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to J. Dotson.
Read in context ↘ - Closing stages
Penix found Pitts again for a 5-yard touchdown with 5:46 remaining. His two-point pass to D. London brought ATL within eight.
Read in context ↘
Loveland and Swift give CHI an early lead
CHI scored the first two touchdowns at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, beginning with C. Williams' 14-yard touchdown pass to C. Loveland with 8:25 remaining in the first quarter. The extra point put CHI ahead 7–0.
D. Swift added a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:10 left in the quarter. Another successful extra point extended the advantage to 14–0, which remained the score at the end of the opening period.
Swift answers ATL's first touchdown
ATL got on the board with 5:49 remaining in the second quarter when M. Penix threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to J. Dotson. The extra point cut CHI's lead to seven.
A fumble on a CHI punt gave CHI possession again when J. Blackwell recovered with 1:52 left before halftime. Swift followed with his second rushing touchdown, this one from 2 yards out with 1:30 remaining. The extra point made it 21–7, and CHI took that lead into halftime.
Johnson's touchdown helps build a 24-point margin
R. Johnson scored on a 4-yard run with 1:54 remaining in the third quarter, followed by a successful extra point. N. McCloud then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, returning possession to CHI.
CHI led 28–7 through three quarters and added a 50-yard field goal at the start of the fourth. That pushed the margin to 24 points after CHI had scored 17 unanswered points since ATL's second-quarter touchdown.
Pitts scores twice before CHI's late recovery
Penix threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to K. Pitts with 9:39 remaining, then completed a two-point conversion to Z. Branch. H. Perkins recovered Johnson's fumble with 7:21 left, giving ATL another possession.
Penix found Pitts again for a 5-yard touchdown with 5:46 remaining. His two-point pass to D. London brought ATL within eight. But Penix lost a fumble on a sack with 3:01 left, and D. Bush recovered for CHI. The game ended in regulation with CHI in possession and the score unchanged at 31–23.
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Published 2026-10-18. Game date shown above.
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