Santos' 58-Yard Kick Decides Bears-Patriots Thriller as Maye's Turnover Proves Costly

Key points

• Cairo Santos kicked a 58-yard field goal with 1:34 left, a career-long and franchise record, to seal the 30-24 victory for Chicago.
• Drake Maye completed 24 of 31 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns but threw a critical end-zone interception to Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson in the second quarter.
• Caleb Williams passed for 308 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first Bears quarterback to throw for over 300 yards in consecutive games since 2018.
• Luther Burden caught four passes for 130 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown with 14 seconds left in the first half.
• The Patriots' defense suffered from missed tackles by starters Marcus Jones and Christian Elliss, contributing to Chicago's 116 rushing yards.
• New England committed an intentional offside penalty in the final seconds to preserve timeouts, a strategy that failed to prevent the Bears' winning kick.

Background

This Week 7 matchup marked the second meeting between rookie quarterbacks Drake Maye and Caleb Williams since the 2024 NFL draft. Maye had previously led New England to a 19-3 victory over Chicago as a rookie. The Patriots entered the game with significant injury concerns, including wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins on injured reserve, and had not won a turnover battle in their first seven games. Chicago's victory improved their record to 5-2, while New England fell to 4-3. The game also served as a tribute to late Bears legend Mike Ditka, with fans wearing his No. 89 jersey and fake mustaches at Soldier Field.

How outlets are covering it

Pats Pulpit emphasized the Patriots' depth issues, noting that injuries have been more severe this season than last, and highlighted the poor performance of defensive starters Marcus Jones and Christian Elliss. The outlet also questioned the value of the A.J. Brown trade, citing his lack of impact. CBS Sports and the Associated Press focused on the quarterback duel, noting Williams' efficiency and Maye's costly interception, while praising Maye's scrambling ability. Chicago Bears media highlighted Cairo Santos' resilience, framing his 58-yard kick as a redemption moment after missing a 53-yard attempt earlier in the fourth quarter. Pats Pulpit noted that the Patriots had a chance to win in the fourth quarter but were let down by mistakes, while CBS Sports pointed out that the Patriots' red zone efficiency was 50% compared to Chicago's 75%.

Why it matters

The loss drops the Patriots to 4-3, complicating their pursuit of the AFC East title, particularly with upcoming games against the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. The Bears' victory solidifies their position in the NFC North and highlights the growing threat of Caleb Williams. The game also underscores the importance of special teams and late-game clock management in close NFL contests, as the Patriots' intentional offside penalty failed to alter the outcome. For New England, the injury crisis and defensive lapses may necessitate trade moves, such as acquiring Colts guard Quenton Nelson, before the stretch run.

What to watch

The Patriots have a 10-day break before facing the Miami Dolphins on November 1. The Bears will play the Seattle Seahawks in a Monday night game on November 2. New England may explore trade options to bolster their roster, particularly at offensive guard, while Chicago will need to manage the absence of tight end Cole Kmet, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the fourth quarter of this game.