Bears beat Bucs 27-24 on final-second kick despite five turnovers
Tampa Bay forced four interceptions from Chicago, but a missed coverage on the final drive allowed Cairo Santos to win the game.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
Chicago defeated Tampa Bay 27-24 on Sunday night, sealing the victory with a 38-yard field goal by Cairo Santos as time expired at Soldier Field. The result gave the Bears their fourth consecutive win, while the Buccaneers suffered their sixth loss of the season despite forcing five turnovers.
The Bears built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Caleb Williams connected with Rome Odunze for a nine-yard touchdown on the opening drive. Later in the quarter, Luther Burden caught a third-down pass and ran 56 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead with six minutes remaining in the period.
Tampa Bay’s defense tightened after the initial shock. Williams threw two interceptions on the Bears’ next two possessions. The Bucs scored on the final play of the first half when Chase McLaughlin kicked a 21-yard field goal. Early in the third quarter, Tez Johnson’s 58-yard reception set up Bucky Irving’s two-yard touchdown, narrowing the gap.
Williams threw a total of four interceptions, a career-high for him. One pick was returned 67 yards for a touchdown by Jaylon Johnson. Another was a deflected pass caught by linebacker Alex Anzalone at the Bears’ 37-yard line with 4:32 left in the third quarter. The Bucs converted that turnover into points, though they settled for field goals in other opportunities.
The game featured a physical struggle between the two teams’ rushing attacks. Tampa Bay gained 126 yards on the ground, while Chicago managed only 72. Both teams had been top rushing offenses entering the weekend, but the field conditions limited their effectiveness.
Tampa Bay tied the game at 24 with 2:51 remaining. The sequence began when rookie Rueben Bain forced a fumble from Burden with 3:38 left. Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu returned the ball to the Bears’ 17. Irving then ran 11 yards for a touchdown and Mayfield completed a two-point conversion to even the score.
The final drive lasted 40 seconds. On second-and-nine from their own 46-yard line, Williams threw to Colston Loveland, who was left uncovered at the Bucs’ 35. Loveland ran 10 yards after the catch and was pushed out of bounds at the Tampa Bay 16. No Bucs defender was within range.
Head Coach Todd Bowles acknowledged the defensive lapse. “We busted. Shouldn’t happen,” Bowles said. He noted that the team had to capitalize on the turnovers they forced, but they gave the ball back too often and struggled on third down.
Baker Mayfield was 18-for-32 for 243 yards and two interceptions. He credited his team’s effort in staying in the game. “It just sucks,” Mayfield said. “But you know, the team fought, stayed in it.” Williams finished 22-for-37 for 279 yards and two touchdowns. He said he would continue to throw aggressively regardless of the result.
The Buccaneers will have a bye week. They enter the break half a game behind the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, both of whom are 3-5 in the NFC South. Tampa Bay’s next game is against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 22.
