Bears beat Buccaneers 27-24 despite four picks
Caleb Williams threw a career-high number of interceptions, but a late field goal secured the win for Chicago.
By Natalie Cooper ·
The Chicago Bears defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 on Sunday, a result that masked a historic level of inefficiency from quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams threw four interceptions, the most in his career, yet the Bears managed to close the game via a long reception and a successful field goal. The victory improves Chicago to 7-2 as the team heads into its bye week.
The game began with strong offensive production for Chicago. Williams connected with Rome Odunze for a touchdown to open the scoring. Shortly after, Luther Burden caught a 56-yard pass over the middle, evading multiple defenders to put the Bears ahead 14-0 after the first quarter. This early lead provided a cushion that would later become vital.
The momentum shifted in the second quarter. A flag for unnecessary roughness on rookie Zavion Thomas preceded an interception thrown by Williams to Odunze. After Tampa Bay turned the ball over on downs, Williams attempted to throw a pass out of bounds but was intercepted again. This marked the first time since Week 3 of the 2024 season that the Bears' quarterback had thrown multiple interceptions in a single regular-season game.
Chicago extended its lead to 17-6 on a field goal, but the gap narrowed when Tampa Bay scored on a field goal before halftime. The second half brought physical adversity for the Bears. Kyler Gordon was knocked out of the game with an arm injury after a reception by Tez Johnson set up a scoring chance for the visitors. Bucky Irving then scored a rushing touchdown to reduce the deficit to 17-13.
Jaylon Johnson provided a pivotal defensive play in the third quarter. He intercepted a pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown, extending the Bears' lead to 24-13. Despite this surge, the offense stalled. Tampa Bay responded with a field goal by Chase McLaughlin, cutting the lead to 24-16 with 11 minutes and 24 seconds remaining.
The final five minutes were chaotic for the Bears' offense. Burden was hit hard on a screen pass and fumbled the ball back to the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay capitalized quickly as Irving scored his second rushing touchdown of the game. Mayfield then added a two-point conversion to tie the game at 24-24 with 2 minutes and 51 seconds left on the clock.
With 50 seconds remaining and Tampa Bay down to a single timeout, the Bears' offense moved the ball downfield. Colston Loveland caught a long pass, breaking the clock and setting up a manageable field goal attempt. Cairo Santos kicked a 38-yarder to secure the 27-24 victory.
Jeffery Simmons recorded his first sack as a member of the Chicago Bears during the final drive. The defensive line also generated four total sacks, including a pair on Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. These stops forced a punt with five minutes remaining, though the offensive fumble shortly after nearly undid the defensive work.
The final score reflects the resilience of the Bears' defense and special teams. Despite Williams' four interceptions and 279 passing yards, the team relied on Loveland's 38-yard catch and Santos' accuracy to hold off a late Tampa Bay rally. The win secures the seventh victory for the season.
