Caleb Williams completed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown Sunday, Oct. 18, as the Chicago Bears beat the Atlanta Falcons 31-23.

Williams, the Bears' third-year quarterback, missed three games with a right hamstring injury suffered in Week 2. He practiced fully at Halas Hall during the week and said Oct. 15 he would need to pass a stress test before starting. He got the call and looked sharp from the opening snap at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Williams engineered touchdown drives on the Bears' first two possessions, completing his first 10 passes for 122 yards. He finished with a 111.2 passer rating as Chicago improved to 4-2, according to the team's game recap by Larry Mayer.

The opening score came on Williams' 14-yard strike to tight end Colston Loveland. Williams escaped pressure, rolled right and threaded the ball between two defenders to Loveland, who held on despite a hit from safety Jesse Bates III. A hook-and-ladder play sustained the drive. On third-and-11, Williams hit Rome Odunze, who lateraled to Roschon Johnson for a 12-yard gain.

D'Andre Swift punched in a 4-yard touchdown run on the next possession. At that point, the Bears had outgained Atlanta 154-1.

Gordon makes history off PUP list

Cornerback Kyler Gordon, activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list Saturday, Oct. 17, delivered a performance for the record books in his first game since January.

Gordon recorded 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles, all in the second half. He became only the second Bears defensive back with 3.0 sacks in a game, joining Todd Bell, who did so Oct. 2, 1983, the team reported. Gordon also became just the second NFL defensive back with at least 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles in a game, joining the Houston Oilers' Rod Kush on Sept. 15, 1985.

His biggest play came with 2:54 left. The Falcons had rallied from a 31-7 deficit to 31-23 on two Michael Penix Jr. touchdown passes to tight end Kyle Pitts, each followed by a two-point conversion. On third-and-16, Gordon sacked Penix and forced a fumble that linebacker Devin Bush recovered to seal the win.

"I just kept doing my same disguises," Gordon said, "toying with the linemen, the QB, the running back, getting their eyes off where [the blitz] is coming from …"

Coach Ben Johnson presented Gordon with a game ball in the locker room. Gordon had more than doubled his career sack total in a single afternoon, entering the game with 2.5 sacks in 45 career games.

The Bears defense produced without ends Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo, linebacker T.J. Edwards and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. Special teams added two takeaways, including Josh Blackwell's recovery of a muffed punt that set up a first-half touchdown.

Chicago hosts the New England Patriots on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Soldier Field.