The Atlanta Falcons host the Chicago Bears looking to snap a one-game skid in a matchup the betting market has pegged as close as it gets.
Game details
| When | Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET |
| Where | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| TV | Fox |
| Line | Chicago Bears -1 | O/U 51 (market view) |
| Chicago Bears record | 3-2 |
| Atlanta Falcons record | 2-3 |
Overview
The Chicago Bears come in at 3-2 but arrive on a one-game losing streak after getting run out of the building 31-7 by the Green Bay Packers in Week 5. Before that stumble, the Bears had reeled off wins over the New York Jets (23-12) and the Philadelphia Eagles (27-7), with a Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings (3-9) sandwiched around a wild 59-37 win over the Carolina Panthers to open the season. Chicago has outscored opponents 119-96 on the year.
The Atlanta Falcons sit at 2-3, also on a one-game losing streak after falling 23-30 to the Baltimore Ravens at home in Week 5. Atlanta's season has been feast or famine: a 45-24 win over the New Orleans Saints and a 35-14 win over the Packers sit next to a 3-34 blowout loss to the Panthers and a 13-20 Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Falcons have been outscored 122-119 this season.
Chicago is a one-point favorite on the road, and that number tracks. The Bears have the better scoring differential and a defense that's held opponents to 96 points, while Atlanta has leaked points all year. But Michael Penix Jr. and Bijan Robinson give the Falcons enough firepower to make this one a coin flip, especially with Caleb Williams banged up.
Key players
Bijan Robinson is Atlanta's engine, projected for 21.5 DraftKings points and the back the Falcons need touching the ball early and often.
Caleb Williams is questionable with a hamstring issue, and his availability swings this game more than anything else on the injury report.
Drake London projected for 15.5 points gives Penix a true number one option Atlanta will lean on to move the chains.
D'Andre Swift projected for 12.5 points anchors Chicago's backfield with Kyle Monangai banged up and questionable.
Michael Penix Jr. is questionable himself and projected for 15.0 points, putting real weight on Atlanta's passing attack holding up.
Keys to the game
Atlanta has to get Bijan Robinson going early and keep feeding him behind Brian Robinson Jr. to control the clock against a Bears defense that's allowed just 96 points this season.
The Falcons need Michael Penix Jr. upright and effective through the air to Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. if he's cleared from his questionable tag.
Atlanta's defense has to find a way to slow down whichever Bears quarterback takes the snaps, given Chicago's offense has shown it can hang points in bunches.
Fantasy angles
Start Bijan Robinson with confidence, he's projected for 21.5 DraftKings points and is the clear focal point of this offense.
Start Drake London in all formats, his 15.5-point projection reflects his role as Atlanta's top target.
Michael Penix Jr. is a start if he clears his questionable tag, with a 15.0-point projection that keeps him flex-worthy in points leagues.
Brian Robinson Jr. is a touchdown-dependent flex option at an 8.5-point projection, more valuable in short-yardage or goal-line situations than as a every-week lock.
Nick Folk at 8.3 projected points is a streaming-caliber kicker option if you need the position filled.
Prediction
The market has this one pegged at Chicago Bears 26, Atlanta Falcons 25, and that number lines up with what both teams have shown. The Bears have the better point differential and a stingier defense, but Caleb Williams being questionable with a hamstring injury adds real uncertainty to Chicago's half of that equation. If Bijan Robinson gets rolling early and Michael Penix Jr. is cleared to play, Atlanta has enough juice to flip that one-point margin in its favor at home.
Injury report
| Player | Team | Pos | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Monangai | Chicago Bears | RB | Out |
| Caleb Williams | Chicago Bears | QB | Questionable |
| Keyshaun Elliott | Chicago Bears | LB | Out |
| Kyler Gordon | Chicago Bears | CB | Questionable |
| Noah Sewell | Chicago Bears | LB | Questionable |
| Shemar Turner | Chicago Bears | DT | Questionable |
| Yasir Abdullah | Atlanta Falcons | LB | Out |
| Jake Matthews | Atlanta Falcons | OT | Questionable |
| Divine Deablo | Atlanta Falcons | LB | Questionable |
| Samson Ebukam | Atlanta Falcons | DE | Questionable |
| Za'Darius Smith | Atlanta Falcons | DE | Questionable |
Depth chart
| Pos | Atlanta Falcons |
|---|---|
| QB | Michael Penix Jr. |
| RB | Bijan Robinson, Brian Robinson Jr. |
| WR | Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus |
| TE | Kyle Pitts Sr. |
Recent results
| Team | Last games |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | Wk5 L 23-30 vs Baltimore Ravens, Wk4 W 45-24 vs New Orleans Saints, Wk3 W 35-14 vs Green Bay Packers |
In this story
- Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons
- Atlanta Falcons
- Chicago Bears
- Bijan Robinson
- Brian Robinson Jr.
- Caleb Williams
- D'Andre Swift
- Divine Deablo
- Drake London
- Jahan Dotson
- Jake Matthews
- Keyshaun Elliott
- Kyle Monangai
- Kyle Pitts Sr.
- Kyler Gordon
- Michael Penix Jr.
- Nick Folk
- Noah Sewell
- Olamide Zaccheaus
- Samson Ebukam
- Shemar Turner
- Yasir Abdullah
- Za'Darius Smith
Written by Rhett Zone, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores, box scores, injuries and depth charts), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our editorial standards.