Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons rally past Bears

[November 21, 2022] Younghoe Koo kicked a go-ahead 53-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter and Cordarrelle Patterson set an NFL record with his ninth career kickoff return for a touchdown to lift the host Atlanta Falcons to a 27-24 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Patterson pieced together several key runs to set up Koo, who split the uprights to cap a 12-play drive with 1:47 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Jaylinn Hawkins intercepted Justin Fields on the ensuing drive to seal the win for the Falcons (5-6), who snapped a two-game skid.

Atlanta's Marcus Mariota threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to rookie Drake London early in the first quarter and rushed for a 10-yard score late in the third.

Patterson etched his name into the record books with 4:18 remaining in the second quarter. He caught the ball three yards deep in the end zone and raced up the middle en route to a 103-yard return for a touchdown that trimmed Chicago's lead to 17-14.

Patterson shared the NFL record with Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington prior to the game.

Fields threw for 153 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 85 yards and a score for the Bears (3-8), who have lost four in a row and seven of their last eight games.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney (11) prepares for a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Mariota, who completed 13 of 20 passes for 131 yards, scrambled and found London in the left corner of the end zone to open the scoring at 9:37 of the first quarter.

Velus Jones Jr. took the ensuing kickoff 55 yards to set up Darnell Mooney's touchdown reception in the corner of the end zone.

Cairo Santos drilled a 41-yard field goal midway into the second quarter before Fields scampered around left end for a 4-yard score that gave the Bears a 17-7 lead. Fields' rushing touchdown was his seventh of the season.

Montgomery bullied his way in from 2 yards out to forge a 24-24 tie with 8:16 remaining in the fourth quarter.

--Field Level Media

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