Santos Kicks Bears Past Buccaneers 27-24 as Time Expires

Cairo Santos hit a 38-yard field goal as time ran out, and the Chicago Bears beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 on Sunday night at Soldier Field. The crowd was 60,470.

The win moved Chicago to 7-2 and stretched its winning streak to four games. Tampa Bay fell to 3-6. The Bears called the result a late hold-off in their official recap, and the final minutes gave them plenty to hold off.

With 2:51 left, Baker Mayfield scrambled in for a two-point conversion, a bonus try from the 2-yard line, to tie the game at 24. Chicago then moved the ball with Caleb Williams at quarterback. His 38-yard completion to Colston Loveland set up Santos, who has a strong leg for the job. The kick sailed through as the clock hit zero.

The game was messy in the middle, too. Chicago committed five turnovers, which means giving the ball away on interceptions or fumbles. Williams threw four interceptions, a career high against Tampa Bay, while going 22 of 37 for 279 yards and two touchdowns. The Guardian's game report noted that it was Chicago's first win with five or more turnovers since a 23-13 victory over Minnesota on 3 December 2006.

Mayfield finished 18 of 32 for 243 yards with two interceptions of his own. Tampa Bay leaned on Bucky Irving, who carried 20 times for 97 yards and scored twice. Chicago's ground game and its quarterback each had their chances to swing the game, and both did.

Luther Burden was one of the Bears' best options in the passing game. He caught seven passes for 97 yards before leaving with a concussion, a head injury that sidelines a player while he is evaluated. Rome Odunze also made a play early, catching a 9-yard pass from Williams in the first quarter.

Bears coach Ben Johnson met reporters after the game. Chicago's win came down to a single play at the end, but the path there looked nothing like a clean one.

For a fan settling in on a Sunday night, the lesson is simple: a game can go sideways for three quarters and still come down to one kick. The Bears gave away the ball five times and still walked off winners. Turnovers often decide games, so Chicago's ability to survive them is the story to watch as the season moves on.