Cairo Santos kicked a career-long 58-yard field goal with 1:34 remaining to seal a 30-24 victory for the Chicago Bears over the New England Patriots on Thursday night at Soldier Field. The prime-time clash featured a high-scoring duel between young quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.
The Chicago offense generated over 400 total yards. This was the third time this season they reached that mark, backed by a dominant showing from wide receiver Luther Burden III and steady play from quarterback Caleb Williams. Burden terrorized the New England secondary in the first half, pulling down four receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown as the Bears took control early.
Williams finished the night completing 22 of 33 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns, marking his back-to-back games with at least 300 passing yards.
Just when you think you have Caleb Williams… NOPE.NEvsCHI on Prime VideoStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/0CMDqduqsi
Caleb Williams Outduels Drake Maye
The matchup between Williams and New England quarterback Drake Maye lived up to its billing as a battle between top-three picks from the 2024 NFL Draft. Maye kept the Patriots competitive throughout the night, leaning heavily on his tight ends and connecting with running back Rhamondre Stevenson on a touchdown to end the first half. According to NFL Research, it marked the first prime-time game since 2018 featuring two quarterbacks under 25 throwing for more than 300 yards and multiple scores.
Yet New England struggled with fundamental execution, particularly on defense. The Patriots missed 14 tackles during the contest, which allowed Chicago to extend possessions. Linebacker D’Marco Jackson also turned in a standout performance for the Bears defense, highlighted by an interception in the end zone.
goodness gracious pic.twitter.com/U6KQST73yf
Mike Vrabel Orders Penalty and Cairo Santos Hits Record Kick
Late-game strategy took center stage in the fourth quarter when Patriots coach Mike Vrabel ordered defensive lineman Cory Durden to commit an intentional offside penalty on a third-and-inches play with 1:56 remaining.
Vrabel reasoned that conceding the first down without letting game time tick off the clock gave his defense a better chance to stop Chicago. It also preserved timeouts for a potential game-winning drive if the subsequent field goal missed.
The Patriots held the Bears to 4-of-12 on 3rd downs tonight, but those 3rd down conversions included…-3rd & 17 screen TD late in the second quarter-3rd & 11 in the fourth quarter-3rd & 9 in the fourth quarter after a penalty backed up a 3rd & 1Backbreakers.
For the record, we told Cory to jump offsides on third-and-six inches,
Vrabel said after the game. We felt like that was going to be the best way to get them stopped, and that’s on me, so our guys executed.
For the record, we told Cory to jump offsides on third-and-six inches. We felt like that was going to be the best way to get them stopped, and that’s on me, so our guys executed.
Mike Vrabel, Patriots Head Coach
That kick came after Williams was sacked for a 10-yard loss by Christian Barmore, pushing Chicago back and setting up a long-range attempt.
Santos redeemed himself after missing an earlier 53-yard try off the upright.
He drilled the 58-yard field goal—the longest of his career and the third-longest in the history of Soldier Field.
Christian Barmore is a bona fide game changer.You have to hope he is alright. pic.twitter.com/UXPusul5aN
The successful conversion carried extra resonance for Vrabel, who coached Santos in Tennessee in 2019 before releasing him following a difficult outing against the Buffalo Bills. Speaking with reporters after Thursday’s defeat, Vrabel expressed admiration for how the kicker rebuilt his career in Chicago after overcoming that early setback.
Make a 58-yard field goal, I think the last field goal Cairo missed was when he kicked for the Titans. I don’t think he’s missed one since then — he missed one earlier in the game, but we always joke about it. I’m really proud of what he’s done. I didn’t want him to make it tonight, but he’s a former guy that we coached.
Mike Vrabel, Patriots Head Coach
With the win, the Bears improve to 5-3 on the season and head to the West Coast in Week 8 to face the Seattle Seahawks. New England returns to address tackling concerns and depth issues on its interior line during an extended stretch of rest.
The Patriots need more from their WRs. Tonight:Drake Maye when targeting WRs: 7-for-12 for 87 yards, 0 TDsDrake Maye when targeting RBs and TEs: 17-for-18 for 234 yards and 2 TDs
More on Cairo Santos
PROBLEM CHILD 😈📺: Prime Video pic.twitter.com/bgRHrPs3hr
There have been 1,006 pass att meeting each of the below criteria in the past 20 years- Final 10 sec of a half- 40+ yards from end zone- Thrown 10 or fewer air yardsOnly 1 resulted in a TD. Drake Maye’s 48-yd TD to Rhamondre Stevenson tonight pic.twitter.com/AHyzTG012Q
Rhamondre Stevenson's 48-yard TD reception as time expired in the first half more than doubled the Patriots' win probability, from 10.2% to 24.5%.Stevenson gained 47 yards after the catch, +23 YAC over expected. He had just a 4.3% chance of scoring.@NEvsCHI | #NEPats pic.twitter.com/9h9YBz8DTI
DRAKE MAYE DART.Patriots respond!NEvsCHI on Prime VideoStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/qUHIe0Xzt4
DPI non-call of the year pic.twitter.com/hzSxIjJyyd
Mike Vrabel was asked what he saw on the Will Campbell false start call on third down: "I'm not in very good favor with the officiating department so I probably shouldn't say anything."
The Bears handed the ball off to JOE THUNEY… it was an illegal hand off pic.twitter.com/EfbkHjVqIp
Former Bears @LanceBriggs & @JerryAzumah REACT to 30-24 TNF win over the Patriots 👀 pic.twitter.com/3KKPTwuO5u
Caleb Williams is sacked on third-and-5. Brings up fourth-and-15 from the Patriots' 40. Would be a 58-yard attempt for Cairo Santos.
During Chicago’s 30-24 win over New England, Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first Bears QB with consecutive 300-yard games since Mitchell Trubisky in 2018, and only the third QB in Bears’ history with 300 passing yards in back-to-back wins,… pic.twitter.com/kWaKZKy4To
Cairo Santos delivered a career-long 58-yard field goal Thursday night, helping the Chicago Bears defeat the New England Patriots 30-24.• Santos connected from 58 yards with 1:34 remaining, matching the Bears' franchise record for longest field goal.• The kick came after…
In 2019, when Mike Vrabel was the Titans' coach, they cut Cairo Santos after he missed four field goals in a game. On Thursday night, after Santos's 58-yard field goal beat Vrabel's Patriots, Vrabel said he's proud of Santos for turning his career around. https://t.co/mNRk82PXOF
It was awesome seeing Cairo Santos get redemption by hitting the game-clinching 58-yard field goal in the Bears' win over the Patriots, as @HaughPayton discussed. pic.twitter.com/GYYb41Ihkf