ATLANTA — The Falcons’ special teams came through with two big plays to help them defeat the Bears 27-24 on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Younghoe Koo made a 53-yard field goal to put the Falcons up with 1:47 left, and Cordarrelle Patterson jump-started the turnaround from a 10-point deficit with a record-breaking 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
The Falcons’ defense, which had given up an 8-minute, 32-second touchdown drive on its previous series, needed a stop to secure the victory after Koo’s field goal.
Falcons safety Jaylinn Hawkins came up with an interception with 1:06 to play. Bears quarterback Justin Fields’ pass intended for running back David Montgomery was high and went through his hands and into the waiting arms of Hawkins.
The Falcons improved to 5-6 and picked up a half-game on the Bucs (5-5) in the NFC South. The Bears dropped to 3-8.
Fields, who played at Harrison High, Georgia and Ohio State, was 14-of-21 passing for 153 yards and a touchdown pass to go with the crucial interception. He had a passer rating of 84. He rushed 18 times for 85 yards and another TD.
Fields was sacked four times.
Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota stayed under control and led the team on the game-winning field-goal drive. He completed 13 of 20 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. He finished with a passer rating of 100.2.
Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts left the game with a knee injury and did not return.
Thanks to a spark from Patterson’s record-breaking kickoff return, the Falcons were tied 17-17 at halftime.
Patterson returned a second-quarter kickoff 103 yards for a TD to help the Falcons dig out from a 10-point deficit. Koo added a 40-yard field goal at the second-quarter buzzer to tie the game.
The Falcons trailed 17-7 when Patterson posted his ninth career kickoff returned for a touchdown. He’d been tied with Leon Washington and Josh Cribbs with eight.
Patterson went up the middle and dodged defenders as he moved outside of the left hash marks around the 30-yard line.
He turned on the afterburners around the 50 and then outraced Chicago’s Elijah Hicks on his way to the end zone.
Falcons teammate Olamide Zaccheaus came over and placed an imaginary crown on Patterson’s head.
Patterson, a first-round pick by the Vikings in 2013, has been selected to four Pro Bowls as a kick returner.
Chicago led 17-14 after Patterson’s return late in the second quarter.
The defense got a stop to set up Koo’s field-goal attempt.
Patterson’s touchdown made up for a fumble on the first play of the previous Falcons’ possession. The Bears turned his fumble into a 29-yard touchdown drive to make it 17-7. Fields scored on a 4-yard run.
The Falcons’ offense got off to a fine start as it put together a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took 5:23 off the clock to start the game.
Mariota tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Drake London to make it 7-0 with the PAT.
It was the fourth time this season the Falcons scored a touchdown on their opening drive. They also scored a touchdown in the opening drives against the 49ers, Chargers and Seahawks.
The kickoff coverage unit then gave up a 55-yard kickoff return to Velus Jones, and the Bears had a short field.
Seven plays later, Chicago wide receiver Darnell Mooney broke wide open off the line of scrimmage, and Fields tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-7.
Cornerback Dee Alford ran into a pick by Bears wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown.
After an exchange of punts and another one by the Falcons, the Bears added a 41-yard field goal from Cairo Santos to make it 10-7.
Patterson broke free for 19 yards, but Bears rookie safety Jaquan Brisker came up from behind and popped out the ball. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson recovered it and returned it 28 yards to Atlanta’s 18.
After Fields scored, Patterson had an answer for the Falcons.
The defense had a three-and-out to start the third quarter. After an exchange of punts, Mariota scored on a 10-yard run after faking it to Patterson with 1:48 left in the third quarter to put the Falcons up 24-17.
Fields guided the Bears on a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to tie it at 24. Montgomery scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. The Bears converted four third downs in the drive of 3, 3, 12 and 5 yards. All were passes.
On third-and-12, Fields had 11.03 seconds to scramble around and find St. Brown for 14 yards. The Falcons missed Fields three times. Falcons rookie Arnold Ebiketie missed Fields when he scrambled out to his left and then when he came back to his right.
The drive took 8:32 off the clock.
Bears defensive tackle Trevis Gipson was injured with 11:48 left in the second quarter. Falcons defensive end Ta’Quon Graham went down with a left knee injury with 5:23 left in the second quarter. He was carted off the field.
Pitts left the game in the third quarter after a knee injury. He went down in pain after a hit. He recovered, popped up and ran off the field.
The Falcons will play Washington at 1 p.m. next Sunday at FedEx Field in Maryland.
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