The Atlanta Falcons host the Chicago Bears in Week 6 of the 2026 NFL regular season on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (13:00 local stadium time), with live coverage in the United States on Fox, NFL Sunday Ticket, FOX One, NFL+ and Fubo.
The matchup pits the two top rushing attacks in the NFL through the first five weeks of the 2026 season against each other. The Atlanta Falcons sit in second place in the NFC South with a 2-3 record, trailing the Carolina Panthers (2-2), after losing 30-23 in overtime to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. The Chicago Bears enter Week 6 with a 3-2 record (119 points scored and 96 allowed), tied in the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers (3-2) and Detroit Lions (3-2) behind the undefeated Minnesota Vikings (5-0), coming off a 31-7 loss to the Packers. In their most recent head-to-head meeting on December 31, 2023, the Chicago Bears defeated the Atlanta Falcons 37-17 in Chicago.
Where to watch Atlanta Falcons vs Chicago Bears live
Fans in the United States can watch the Week 6 matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears across broadcast television, pay-per-view and streaming platforms, with play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt and analyst Tom Brady on the television call:
- Fox (over-the-air broadcast TV)
- NFL Sunday Ticket (pay-per-view)
- FOX One (streaming)
- NFL+ (streaming)
- Fubo (streaming)
Start time and location for Atlanta Falcons vs Chicago Bears
- Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Start time: 1 p.m. ET (13:00 local time at the stadium, America/New_York)
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta, Georgia
- Competition: NFL (North American football league) — Week 6
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How the Atlanta Falcons enter the game
Head coach Kevin Stefanski, who was hired on Saturday, January 17, 2026, is expected to have starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. under center. Penix suffered a rib injury late in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5 and was replaced in overtime by backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but he was a full participant in practice on Wednesday (14) and Thursday (15).
“I won’t go into specifics, but he’s feeling better,” Kevin Stefanski said regarding his quarterback’s recovery. Michael Penix Jr. also confirmed his readiness after regretting missing the overtime period in Week 5: “I hated it. I hated that I couldn’t get back in that game.” He added: “We’re good. And I feel good to go this week so that’s the plan.”
According to the Thursday (15) injury report, cornerback C.J. Henderson (groin) missed his second straight practice and right tackle Jawaan Taylor was given a rest day. Defensive end Za’Darius Smith cleared the concussion protocol but was limited with neck soreness, alongside linebacker Kendal Daniels (Achilles) and defensive end Cameron Thomas (groin), while left tackle Jake Matthews (groin) and linebacker Divine Deablo (hamstring) practiced in full. The Falcons have seven players on Injured Reserve: starting cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr., linebacker JD Bertrand, wide receiver Beaux Collins, offensive tackle Cameron Williams, linebacker Yasir Abdullah, defensive end Da’Shawn Hand and running back Trey Sermon. Addressing the absences in the secondary, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said: “Mike Hughes is a top-end starter in this league. Avieon (Terrell) is emerging.”
The projected starting lineup from the official Week 6 depth chart for the Atlanta Falcons features Michael Penix Jr. (QB), Bijan Robinson (RB), Drake London, Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson (WRs), Kyle Pitts Sr. and Charlie Woerner (TEs), Jake Matthews (LT), Matthew Bergeron (LG), Ryan Neuzil (C), Chris Lindstrom (RG) and Jawaan Taylor (RT) on offense. The defense lists Cameron Thomas and Brandon Dorlus (DEs), Maason Smith and LaCale London (DLs), Divine Deablo and Kendal Daniels (ILBs), C.J. Henderson and Mike Hughes (CBs), Avieon Terrell (NB), Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts (Safeties), with kicker Nick Folk on special teams.
How the Chicago Bears enter the game
The Chicago Bears are led by head coach Ben Johnson, who took over the team in January 2025 and guided the franchise to an 11-6 record, the NFC North division title and its first playoff victory since 2010 during his debut season. For Week 6, starting quarterback Caleb Williams practiced in full on Wednesday (14) and Thursday (15) after missing the previous three games with a right hamstring injury sustained in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings.
During Williams’ absence, the Bears used backup quarterbacks Case Keenum, who beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7 in Week 3, and Tyson Bagent, who defeated the New York Jets 23-12 in Week 4 before losing 31-7 to the Green Bay Packers in Week 5. Despite returning to full practice, Williams stated his status for Sunday (18) awaits final medical clearance: “[I] do not know if I’m playing yet. [I] have to go through a bunch of medical protocols, have to go out there and practice … We’ll go through the stress test this week, and at the end of the week we’ll make a decision if I’m good to go or not. That’s for the betterment of myself and my health and then also for the betterment of the team.”
In the Chicago Bears’ injury report from Thursday (15), linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring), linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (quadriceps), running back Kyle Monangai (thumb/toe) and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (quadriceps) did not practice. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (hip) was a limited participant, while defensive back Kyler Gordon (calf) practiced in full.
The projected starting lineup for the Chicago Bears in Week 6 includes Caleb Williams (QB), D’Andre Swift (RB), Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and Kalif Raymond (WRs), Colston Loveland (TE), Ozzy Trapilo, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson and Darnell Wright (OL) on offense. On defense, the projected starters are Austin Booker, Grady Jarrett, Kentavius Street and James Lynch (DL), Devin Bush, Noah Sewell and D’Marco Jackson (LB), Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson and Cam Lewis (CB), and Xavier Woods and Dillon Thieneman (S), with Cairo Santos (K), Tory Taylor (P) and Scott Daly (LS) on special teams.
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Officiating crew for Atlanta Falcons vs Chicago Bears
The NFL assigned referee Scott Novak to lead the seven-person on-field officiating crew and the league’s centralized video replay system (Replay Official) for the Week 6 game, while the individual names of the remaining field and replay officials have not yet been publicly detailed. In the all-time series between the two franchises, the Chicago Bears hold a 16-14 edge over the Atlanta Falcons across 30 regular-season and postseason games.