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Late FG gives Falcons 27-24 win over Bears
By: Mike Stiles - Monday, November 21, 2022

(photo courtesy of Chicago Bears)

(ATLANTA) – Marcus Mariota and the Atlanta Falcons are still under .500 and still in the thick of the NFC South race. Younghoo Koo’s 53 yard field goal gave Atlanta the lead with less than two minutes to play and the Falcons overcame another impressive game from Chicago’s Justin Fields to beat the Bears 27-24 on Sunday. Fields ran for 85 yards with a touchdown despite suffering a left shoulder injury on the Bears' final possession. Fields said he was hurt on the first play of the Bears' possession following Koo's go-ahead field goal. Fields remained in the game. Fields' pass for running back David Montgomery was intercepted by Falcons safety Jaylinn Hawkins with 1:07 remaining. A 26 yard run by rookie Tyler Alggeier allowed the Falcons, who rushed for 149 yards, to wind down the clock. Fields completed 14 of 21 passes for 153 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Bears suffered their fourth consecutive loss, and drop to 3-8, having lost six of seven. Each quarterback had the most carries for his team. Mariota couldn't match Fields' dual-threat production, but he ran and threw for touchdowns for Atlanta (5-6), which pulled within one-half game of NFC South-leading Tampa Bay (5-5) on the Buccaneers' bye week. Atlanta running back Cordarrelle Patterson, who played for the Bears for two years before signing with the Falcons in 2021, set the NFL record with his ninth career kickoff return for a touchdown. His 103 yard return in the second quarter broke a tie with Joshua Cribbs and Leon Washington for the mark. Mariota had 13 carries for 25 yards, including a 10 yard scoring run for a 24-17 lead in the third quarter. He threw for 131 yards, including a 2 yard scoring pass to Drake London.

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