The Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots 30–24 in a Thursday Night Football game at Soldier Field, marking their fifth win of the season in the first home matchup since the death of franchise legend Mike Ditka. Bild.de reported that the contest unfolded amid emotional tributes to the former player and championship-winning head coach, who died on October 9 at age 86.
Tributes for Mike Ditka at Soldier Field
Supporters inside Soldier Field honored Mike Ditka by dressing in his signature sideline attire, featuring aviator sunglasses, sweater vests, and fake mustaches distributed outside the stadium gates. A moment of silence preceded kickoff for the club legend, who won the Super Bowl as a player with the Bears in 1963 and coached the franchise to victory over the Patriots in 1985. The emotional backdrop set the tone for a high-scoring primetime encounter.
Cairo Santos and D'Andre Swift Lead Early Scoring
Cairo Santos opened the scoring for Chicago with a 43-yard field goal nearly five minutes into the first quarter. Running back D’Andre Swift absorbed a helmet-to-knee collision that tore his stocking before returning to rush for a Bears touchdown. A rare penalty occurred when the Bears briefly fielded 12 defensive players, drawing an automatic first down under NFL rules. That miscue opened the door for New England quarterback Drake Maye, who scored the Patriots’ first touchdown by flipping the ball left-handed into the end zone while falling backward. Santos added another field goal to push Chicago ahead 13–7, before Luther Burden III scored a touchdown just before halftime. New England responded immediately with a trick play one second before the intermission, as Rhamondre Stevenson broke loose for a 48-yard touchdown reception.
Santos Hits 58-Yard Field Goal to Secure Lead
Colston Loveland extended Chicago’s lead with a touchdown early in the third quarter, though New England answered with a scoring reception by Eli Raridon. Special teams proved erratic when Santos hit the goalpost on a 53-yard field goal attempt. After Caleb Williams took a sack that stalled the drive, Santos redeemed the possession by converting a 58-yard field goal with 94 seconds remaining on the clock, leaving the Patriots with only enough time to narrow the deficit via a final field goal.
Bears Reach Five Wins as Patriots Streak Ends
The victory lifts the Chicago Bears to five wins on the year, while the New England Patriots suffered their first loss after putting together a three-game winning streak. The NFL broadcast schedule continues with Sunday matchups aired via league partners, with the Bears preparing for their next regular-season fixture.
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