The Chicago Bears survived a Thursday night thriller at Soldier Field, holding off the New England Patriots 30-24 to move to 5-2 in the NFC North. Quarterback Caleb Williams and receiver Luther Burden III starred, but the night belonged to kicker Cairo Santos, whose career-long 58-yard field goal with 1:34 left sealed a win that snaps New England’s three-game winning streak.
Caleb Williams and Luther Burden III star as the Bears hold off the Patriots (Credits: BBC Sport)
It was also an emotional evening: Chicago’s first home game since the death of Hall of Famer Mike Ditka on October 9, marked with a pregame moment of silence and a crowd of 60,520 wearing fake mustaches in tribute. The Bears honored Da Coach with a win.
Caleb Williams Throws for 308 Yards as Bears Beat Patriots
Williams was 22-of-33 for 308 yards and two touchdowns — his second straight 300-yard game, making him the first Bears quarterback to do that since Mitchell Trubisky in 2018. His favorite target was Burden, who caught all four of his targets for 130 yards and a touchdown, including a 24-yard score with 14 seconds left in the first half that pushed the Bears to a 20-7 lead.
New England refused to die. Drake Maye answered with a 48-yard touchdown strike to Rhamondre Stevenson as time expired in the half, cutting it to 20-14, and later found Eli Raridon for a 30-yard score that made it 27-21. Maye finished 24-of-31 for 321 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, plus a rushing touchdown.
Cairo Santos’ 58-Yard Field Goal Seals Bears Win Over Patriots
The decisive drive was pure drama. With 4:59 left, Williams hit Rome Odunze for 21 yards on third-and-9 from the Bears’ 10 to keep the drive alive, then took a 10-yard sack on third-and-5 that seemingly pushed Chicago out of field-goal range. Coach Ben Johnson trusted his kicker anyway — even though Santos had missed from 53 earlier — and Santos drilled the 58-yarder, the third-longest in Soldier Field history.
The Patriots got a 47-yard field goal from Andy Borregales with 37 seconds left to pull within six, but Odunze recovered the ensuing onside kick and the Bears ran out the clock. New England falls to 4-3; Chicago keeps pace in the NFC North at 5-2.
Also Read: Bears Beat Patriots 30-24 on Thursday Night as Cairo Santos’s Career-Long 58-Yarder Seals It, Da Coach: Bears Honor Mike Ditka With Mustache Giveaway and No. 89 Tribute at First Home Game Since His Death
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
