CHICAGO — Leading by six points with less than two minutes to go, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams took a 10-yard sack on third down, moving the offense back to the New England Patriots 40-yard line.
Coach Ben Johnson faced a crucial decision: attempt a career-long field goal for kicker Cairo Santos that could all but ice the game, or play it safe and punt. Missing the field goal posed a threat because it would’ve given the Patriots a short field to work with.
Johnson took the aggressive approach and sent out Santos, who nailed the 58-yard try to put the Bears ahead by two scores with 1:34 to play. The Patriots kicked a field goal to make it 30-24 with 37 seconds left but failed to recover an onside kick, and the Bears held on for the victory.
The Bears never trailed as they improved to 5-2.
In the first half, it was wide receiver Luther Burden III who provided a spark for the offense. Burden totaled four catches for 130 yards and a touchdown — all before halftime. Late in the second quarter, he scored on a screen pass when he followed a block from right tackle Darnell Wright for a 24-yard touchdown.
That put the Bears ahead 20-7 with only 14 seconds before halftime. But New England moved quickly, with quarterback Drake Maye completing an 18-yard pass to A.J. Brown, then connecting with running back Rhamondre Stevenson for a 48-yard touchdown. Stevenson blew past several Bears defenders to find the end zone with no time on the clock, cutting the halftime lead to 20-14.
The Bears had an answer after the break. Williams drove the Bears 72 yards in nine plays and connected with tight end Colston Loveland for a 12-yard touchdown.
The Patriots scored late in the third quarter when Maye found tight end Eli Raridon for a 30-yard touchdown that trimmed the lead to 27-21. That was where the score remained when Santos — who had clanged a 53-yard try off the right upright earlier in the fourth quarter — made his 58-yard field goal.
Williams was 22 of 33 passing for 308 yards — his second straight 300-yard game — and two touchdowns. Maye went 24 of 31 for 321 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Early in the fourth-quarter drive that led to Santos’ field goal, Bears tight end Cole Kmet was carted off with a right knee injury after an 8-yard reception and did not return.
After a holding penalty on the next play, Williams converted on third-and-9 at the Bears 10-yard line with a 21-yard dart to Rome Odunze.
The Bears now have an extended layoff before facing the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 2 at Lumen Field on “Monday Night Football.”
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