Pro Sports

Ryan leads 2 TD drives in 4th, Falcons beat Bears 23-17

Posted September 10, 2017 7:00 am

By ANDREW SELIGMAN

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws against Chicago Bears linebacker Leonard Floyd (94) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) - Matt Ryan threw an 88-yard touchdown to Austin Hooper and led two fourth-quarter scoring drives, and the NFC champion Atlanta Falcons held on to beat the Chicago Bears 23-17 in the season opener on Sunday.

The butt of jokes following their epic Super Bowl collapse against New England, the Falcons survived as the Bears missed several chances to score a touchdown in the final seconds.

The Bears had a first down at the Atlanta 5 in the closing minute. Glennon's pass to a lunging Josh Bellamy on first down hit off the receiver's hands, and Jordan Howard then dropped a simple catch at the 1.

After another incompletion on third down, Glennon got sacked by Brooks Reed to end the drive.

Atlanta was clinging to a 13-10 lead early in the fourth when a scrambling Ryan fired to a wide-open Hooper near midfield. The second-year tight end from Stanfordraced up the right side and stiff-armed Quintin Demps on the way to the end zone to make it a 10-point game.

The Bears then went 75 yards, with Glennon hitting rookie Tarik Cohen for a 19-yard TD midway through the fourth to cut it to 20-17. Atlanta's Matt Bryant answered with a 37-yard field goal, making it 23-17 with 3:24 left.

Coming off an MVP season, Ryan was 21 of 30 for 321 yards and a touchdown.

Hooper had two catches for 128 yards. Jones added 66 yards receiving and Bryant kicked three field goals.

In his Bears debut, Glennon didn't silence fans who would rather see No. 2 overall draft pick Mitchell Trubisky. He was 26 of 40 for 213 yards and a TD.

Cohen made an impressive debut with 66 yards rushing and 47 receiving. He reversed field on a 46-yard run, helping set up Howard's 4-yard touchdown near the end of the half.

Receiver Kevin White found himself in a familiar position, walking off the field with an injury. He had two catches for six yards before hurting his shoulder. White was limited to four games in his first two seasons after being drafted seventh overall in 2015.

INJURIES

Bears: LG Kyle Long - coming back from right ankle surgery - was inactive. Former Falcon Tom Compton started in his place. ... RB Benny Cunningham Jr. hurt his ankle blocking on a pass play early in the second quarter.

UP NEXT

Falcons: Host Green Bay.

Bears: Visit Tampa Bay.

___

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Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) misses a catch against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Chicago. The Falcons won 23-17. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press

Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs to the end zone for a touchdown past Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller (23) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrates a touchdown with running back Devonta Freeman (24) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press

Chicago Bears defensive end Akiem Hicks (96) celebrates after a quarterback sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press

Chicago Bears quarterback Mike Glennon (8) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) The Associated Press

Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) dives into end zone for a touchdown against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) and linebacker Deion Jones (45) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) gets sacked by Chicago Bears defensive end Akiem Hicks (96) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Associated Press

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