Bears Beat Buccaneers 27-24 as Santos Kicks Winner on Sunday Night Football

Cairo Santos drilled a 38-yard field goal with three seconds left as the Chicago Bears beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 on Sunday Night Football at Soldier Field, surviving four Caleb Williams interceptions to win a fourth straight game and move to 7-2. Tampa Bay had tied the game 24-24 with 2:51 remaining, but Chicago drove down the field for the winning kick.

It was a strange night in Chicago. Williams threw four interceptions and Tampa Bay blocked a punt, yet the Buccaneers managed only three points off all four turnovers. Johnson's 67-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter proved decisive.

Key Points

• Santos kicked a 38-yard field goal with three seconds left to give the Bears a 27-24 win.
• Williams threw four interceptions, yet Tampa Bay scored only three points off the turnovers.
• Johnson returned a Baker Mayfield interception 67 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
• Luther Burden scored on a 56-yard touchdown catch; Rome Odunze caught a nine-yard touchdown pass.
• Chicago improves to 7-2 with a fourth straight win, while Tampa Bay falls to 3-6.

What Happened

The Bears started fast. Williams threw touchdown passes to Burden and Odunze in the first half, and Chicago led 17-6 at the break despite three Williams interceptions in the second quarter alone. The first came when Williams looked for Odunze in the end zone and safety Tykee Smith stepped in front of the pass. Tampa Bay gave it straight back when Mayfield was stopped on fourth-and-1 from his own 35.

Williams gave the ball away again on his next pass, a downfield throw while being hit that Zyon McCollum picked off, and Tampa Bay punted. His third came on what looked like a throwaway, but McCollum dived to pick it off again. Chase McLaughlin kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired in the half, leaving Tampa Bay with just three points from three takeaways.

The turning point came in the third quarter, when Johnson jumped a Mayfield pass and raced 67 yards for a touchdown to make it 24-13. Tampa Bay refused to go away: Bucky Irving scored his second touchdown late in the fourth quarter, and Mayfield ran in the two-point conversion to tie it 24-24 with 2:51 left. Williams got one last chance and did not give the ball away. Chicago moved into field-goal range, and Santos split the uprights from 38 yards with three seconds remaining.

Background and Context

The win continues a remarkable turnaround for Chicago. The Bears arrived at 6-2, already on a three-game winning streak after beating the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks 34-17 on Monday Night Football the previous week. That win had been built on a dominant defensive display, and Sunday's victory followed a similar pattern: the defence carried the day when the offence faltered.

Williams' night was the strangest of his young career. At half-time he was 14 of 23 for 193 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, his first multi-turnover game since Week 3 of his rookie season in 2024. He had never thrown three interceptions in a game as a professional before Sunday night, and he added a fourth in the second half.

Tampa Bay arrived at 3-5, a week after one of the strangest wins in modern NFL history: a 16-0 victory over the Atlanta Falcons without completing a single pass, as Mayfield went 0-for-3 in his second game back after missing three weeks with a fractured thumb. Bucky Irving carried them that day with a career-high 170 rushing yards. Against Chicago, Mayfield was 11 of 19 for 139 yards with an interception at half-time.

Bears Beat Buccaneers 27-24: How Chicago Survived Four Interceptions

The headline numbers say Chicago should have lost: four interceptions, a blocked punt, and a quarterback who had never thrown three picks in a game before. Yet the Bears won because Tampa Bay could not turn gifts into points, scoring just three points off Williams' four interceptions.

Chicago's defence made the plays that mattered. Johnson's 67-yard pick-six was the biggest swing of the night, turning a tight game into a two-score lead. The Bears were also superb on third down in the first half, converting 6 of 7, which kept drives alive and kept Mayfield off the field. Burden's 56-yard touchdown catch showed the big-play threat in Chicago's passing game.

Reactions

Soldier Field was loud all night, and the roar when Santos' kick went through the uprights was the loudest of the season so far. The Bears' sideline poured onto the field.

Odunze's touchdown celebration carried extra meaning: the wide receiver paid tribute to injured teammate Cole Kmet after his nine-yard score, a gesture that underlined how close this Bears locker room has become. For Tampa Bay, the mood was very different: the Buccaneers had fought back to tie the game late, only for the defence to fail to get one final stop, and they left Chicago at 3-6.

Why It Matters

The win keeps Chicago firmly in the hunt at the top of the NFC. At 7-2 with four straight wins, the Bears are playing like a team that can win in different ways: with a dominant defence, with big plays from young receivers like Burden and Odunze, and with a veteran kicker who delivers when it matters most. Winning despite four interceptions builds belief inside a locker room.

For Williams, the night was a test of resilience. His worst statistical game as a professional ended in a win, and he was trusted with the ball on the final drive with the game tied. For Tampa Bay, the loss deepens the problems. The Buccaneers are 3-6, and a team that won without completing a pass a week ago now cannot turn four interceptions into points.

What Happens Next

Chicago will look to extend its winning run to a fifth straight victory next week, now firmly established as one of the form teams in the NFC. The focus will be on cleaning up the turnovers: Williams cannot throw four interceptions every week and expect the defence to save him.

Tampa Bay must regroup quickly. The Buccaneers need to turn takeaways into touchdowns, get Mayfield back to his best, and stop the slide before the season gets away from them. At 3-6, there is little margin left for error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score?
The Chicago Bears beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 at Soldier Field on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

Who kicked the winning field goal?
Cairo Santos kicked a 38-yard field goal with three seconds left.

How many interceptions did Caleb Williams throw?
Four, three in the second quarter, but Tampa Bay scored only three points off them.

What is the Bears' record now?
Chicago improves to 7-2 with a fourth straight win; Tampa Bay falls to 3-6.

Who scored the Bears' defensive touchdown?
Jaylon Johnson returned a Baker Mayfield interception 67 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

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