Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos secured a 30-24 victory over the New England Patriots on Thursday night, connecting on a 58-yard field goal in the final minutes to seal the win at Soldier Field. This successful kick marked the longest of Santos’ career and stands as the third-longest in franchise history. The result moves the Bears to a 5-2 record on the season, while the Patriots fall to 4-3.
Caleb Williams and Drake Maye lead offensive efforts
The game featured a high-scoring duel between the two quarterbacks. Caleb Williams completed 22 of 33 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns without throwing any interceptions. This performance marked his second game back since returning from a muscular injury, and he has remained undefeated in both appearances since his return. On the opposing side, New England’s Drake Maye finished with 24 of 31 passes for 321 yards, contributing two passing touchdowns and one rushing score. Despite the offensive production, Maye was intercepted by D’Marco Jackson in the first half while the Patriots were threatening in the red zone.
Cairo Santos secures win with career-long field goal
The game remained competitive until the final moments. After missing a 53-yard attempt with roughly seven minutes remaining, Santos successfully converted from 58 yards with 1:34 left on the clock to extend the Chicago lead to two possessions. New England managed to add a field goal with 37 seconds remaining, but the late score was insufficient to overcome the deficit.
FINAL: Bears get it done on TNF 🐻⬇️ https://t.co/lnwMY5k5wl— NFL (@NFL) October 23, 2026
Chicago honors Mike Ditka at Soldier Field
The Thursday night matchup served as a backdrop for the Bears to honor the memory of Mike Ditka. Ditka won a championship with the franchise as a player in 1963 and later led the team to a Super Bowl victory in 1986, notably against the same Patriots organization. Chicago opened the game with an early 10-0 lead fueled by a Santos field goal and a rushing touchdown from D’Andre Swift. The team’s offensive balance was aided by Swift, who helped consume valuable time on the clock. Williams also connected with receiver Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland for touchdowns, while Maye found Eli Raridon for a 30-yard score. While New England narrowed the gap to 20-14 before halftime following a 48-yard touchdown reception by Rhamondre Stevenson, the Bears maintained their lead throughout the second half.
Bears trail Vikings in NFC North standings
Following this result, the Bears look ahead to their next conference challenges, holding a 5-2 record that positions them as the second-best team in the NFC North, trailing the Vikings. The Patriots, now 4-3, return to AFC East play. The teams will continue their respective campaigns as they move into the next week of the NFL schedule, with official team updates expected in the coming days.
The 58-yard field goal was a career-long for Cairo Santos. #Bears
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