Bears' winners and losers from Week 6 win over Falcons: Caleb Williams delivers, defense raises concerns

Atlanta scored 16 unanswered points, turning what should have been a comfortable victory into an unnecessarily stressful finish.

There was plenty to like about the Bears' performance, but there were also some legitimate concerns that shouldn't be ignored.

Here are Chicago's biggest winners and losers from Week 6.

Winners

Caleb Williams

Williams couldn't have asked for a much better return.

After missing three games with a hamstring injury, Chicago's franchise quarterback completed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown.

He also completed his first 12 attempts, immediately settling into a rhythm the Bears' offense had lacked during his absence.

What stood out most was how comfortable Williams looked operating Ben Johnson's offense despite the layoff. He distributed the football to all of his skill players, avoided turnover-worthy throws, and played like the defense was moving in slow motion.

The Bears survived without Williams. Sunday reminded everyone how much more dangerous they are with him.

Kyler Gordon

If Williams was Chicago's offensive MVP, Gordon was the defense's most valuable dude. In fact, he was arguably the best player on the field on Sunday.

Making his season debut, Gordon recorded three sacks, including a critical fourth-quarter strip-sack of Michael Penix Jr. that helped stop Atlanta's comeback attempt.

Gordon played just 17 defensive snaps, but earned an elite 95.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

Talk about making the most of limited opportunities.

With Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyinbgo out and Chicago's defensive front lacking a a game-changing edge rusher, Gordon provided exactly the disruptive playmaking the Bears desperately needed.

Luther Burden III

Burden caught all eight of his targets for 95 yards against Atlanta, earning the Bears' highest offensive PFF grade at 79.2.

His explosiveness and playmaking ability are beginning to separate him from the other Bears' pass catchers, and there's little doubt now, six games into the 2026 season, that he is Chicago's WR1.

Burden's growth has been fun to watch, especially as he fights for targets with other high-end options like Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, and even Kalif Raymont.

The Bears have no shortage of skill talent this year, and Burden is the best of the bunch.

Chicago's special teams

Special teams don't always get much attention when a team scores 31 points, but Chicago's unit deserves credit for helping create that offensive production.

The Bears recovered two fumbles by Falcons returner Zachariah Branch, with both takeaways leading to points.

Josh Blackwell recovered a muffed punt that helped set up a D'Andre Swift touchdown, while Nick McCloud recovered a kickoff-return fumble forced by Zavier Scott that eventually led to a Cairo Santos field goal.

Losers

Ben Johnson's fourth-quarter game management

Johnson deserves plenty of credit for Chicago's offensive success, but his late-game decisions deserve scrutiny.

With the Bears leading 31-7, Johnson began removing defensive starters as the team looked ahead to Thursday night's matchup against New England. It's understandable to protect players on a short week, particularly with Chicago already dealing with defensive injuries. But the Bears shouldn't have gotten so comfortable with so much time left.

Atlanta scored twice, Chicago committed a costly turnover, and suddenly the Falcons had a realistic opportunity to force overtime.

Johnson's decision didn't cost the Bears the win, but it made the final quarter much more uncomfortable than it needed to be.

That's a lesson worth remembering.

Darnell Wright

Wright earned a 51.6 overall PFF grade, the worst on the Bears' offense in Week 6.

His 35.3 pass-blocking grade was particularly shocking. Wright has traditionally been Chicago's most reliable lineman. Perhaps he's hiding an injury. There's no other reasonable explanation.

Wright is expected to be a cornerstone of Chicago's offensive line, and the Bears need more consistent play from him as the schedule heats up.

Chicago's fourth-quarter defense

The Bears held Atlanta to seven points through three quarters, but football games are four quarters, not three.

Penix connected twice with Kyle Pitts Sr. for fourth-quarter touchdowns, and the Falcons converted both two-point attempts. A 24-point advantage shrank to eight, forcing Chicago's defense to make another critical play to secure the victory.

Yes, the Bears were missing several starters on defense. But letting an opponent climb back into a game that seemed over isn't acceptable.

The Bears got away with it Sunday. No harm, no foul... for now.

The Bears' discipline

Chicago committed 12 penalties for 133 yards against Atlanta. That's a staggering number, especially for a Ben Johnson team.

Penalties usually derail drives, extend opposing possessions, and erase otherwise quality execution. The Bears were talented enough to overcome those mistakes against the Falcons, but discipline remains an area Johnson must address.

At 4-2, Chicago is in a good spot. The next step is learning how to win without making things so difficult.

The bottom line

Sunday was a good day for the Bears. Williams returned and looked awesome. Gordon was a superhero in his season debut. Chicago found another way to win on the road.

But the fourth-quarter collapse, costly penalties, and uneven offensive line play should remind everyone that the Bears are still an unfinished product. That's a scary thought, isn't it?

The Bears have enough talent to compete with any team in the NFL. Now they need to show the consistency and discipline required to be the best team in the league.

With the Patriots coming to Soldier Field on Thursday night, they won't have long to figure it out.