Caleb Williams Returns and has an efficient performance en route to victory against Atlanta
Caleb Williams completed 30 out of 36 passes for 306 yards and a touchdown as the Chicago Bears beat the Atlanta Falcons 31-23 in front of a largely partisan crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Williams completed his first twelve passes to start the game.
Chicago built a 31-7 lead before holding off a fourth-quarter rally by Atlanta.
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. finished 19 of 33 for 225 yards and three touchdowns. He returned after leaving the previous week’s 30-23 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens with a rib injury. Atlanta dropped to 2-4.
Penix hit Jahan Dotson with a 13-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, a back-shoulder fade that cut Chicago’s lead to 14-7. The Falcons did not score again until the fourth quarter, when Penix found Kyle Pitts from 10 yards out and then connected with Zachariah Branch on the 2-point conversion.
The Bears won despite 12 penalties for 133 yards. Wide receiver Jahdae Walker was ejected in the fourth quarter after a personal foul for head-butting Atlanta’s Chris Blair.
Panthers beat injury-riddled Eagles in Philly
Bryce Young threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, and the Carolina Panthers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 25-14 at Lincoln Financial Field. Chuba Hubbard added 120 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Carolina capitalized on a banged-up Philadelphia team. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is out at least four games with a blood clot, and running backs Saquon Barkley, Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby were also unavailable.
The Panthers committed eight penalties for 105 yards in the first half, including two illegal-man-downfield flags on guard Robert Hunt. “That’s not our football,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said.
Carolina recovered by controlling the ball for more than 11 minutes in the third quarter. Young sealed the win with a touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble with 6:33 left.
Eagles edge rusher Nolan Smith left in the first half with a concussion after helmet-to-helmet contact with Hubbard. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis hurt an ankle.
Deshaun Watson leads final drive, and the Browns walk it off against the Ravens
This game didn’t feature a lot of offense until the very end. Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson led his team down the field, which included a pass to Jerry Jeudy for a 33-yard gain that set up Andre Szmyt’s 37-yard field goal on the final snap, and the Browns rallied past the Baltimore Ravens 13-10 on Sunday.
“I want to be the guy that makes something happen,” Watson said. “I know (fans) want better play and we want better play … but getting those victories, against a division rival like this in a home stadium is very huge.”
Neither offense topped 250 yards. Watson was 16 of 26 for 164 yards. Baltimore backup quarterback Tyler Huntley was 19 of 31 for 165 yards and a touchdown. Ravens running back Derrick Henry gained 51 yards and fumbled. Cleveland then marched 35 yards in seven plays, with Audric Estime scoring from 2 yards out to tie it 10-10 with 8:33 left. Cleveland signed Estime off Minnesota’s practice squad this week with starter Quinshon Judkins out with an ankle injury.
“I told the team, ‘Put this one on me,’” said Henry. “I’ve just got to do better. Can’t put the team in this position.”
Ravens WR Rashod Bateman (shoulder) left in the second quarter and did not return. Meanwhile, Browns safety Grant Delpit exited in the first quarter and was placed in the concussion protocol.
Titans win first game of the Season
The Tennessee Titans erased a 13-0 halftime deficit, scoring 26 second-half points to beat the Indianapolis Colts 26-20 for their first victory of the season. Joey Slye kicked two field goals in the final 2½ minutes, and quarterback Cam Ward threw a touchdown pass to Carnell Tate.
Oluwafemi Oladejo returned a blocked punt for a touchdown to give Tennessee its first lead with 10:17 remaining. Jonathan Taylor’s 4-yard touchdown run tied it 20-20 with 5:32 left before Slye’s field goals decided it.
Indianapolis outgained Tennessee 232-64 in the first half but managed only three scoring drives, two of which ended in field goals. Daniel Jones was 22 of 42 for 269 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, both of which cost the Colts scoring chances. Taylor ran 21 times for 94 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 57 yards.
