Moments after hitting the upright from 53 yards, Cairo Santos was sent back out from even further. Chicago had just lost ten yards on a Caleb Williams sack, yet Ben Johnson kept his kicker on the field, and Santos rewarded him with a 58-yard strike, the longest of his career, that handed the Bears a nine-point cushion inside the final two minutes at Soldier Field.
New England made it nervy. Andy Borregales cut the gap to six from 47 yards with barely half a minute to play, forcing an onside attempt. Rome Odunze pounced on it, and Chicago could kneel out a 30-24 win on Thursday night.
The Bears never trailed. Chicago jumped out 10-0 and seemed set for a 13-point lead at the interval, until Rhamondre Stevenson turned a short catch into a 48-yard score on the last play before the break. Chicago restored a two-score cushion straight after the break with a 72-yard drive.
Williams, in only his second game back from a hamstring problem, went 22 of 33, racking up 308 yards through the air with a pair of touchdown throws. Receiver Luther Burden III did his damage early, piling up 130 yards on four catches, including a screen he weaved into the end zone behind a wall of blockers. Running back D’Andre Swift churned out 78 yards and found the end zone once. Drake Maye passed for 321 yards for New England but was picked off in the end zone by D’Marco Jackson.
Johnson said nights like this, when the team has to shrug off its own mistakes, reveal its character. The Bears, who honoured Mike Ditka before kickoff, move to 5-2; the Patriots slip to 4-3.
