Patriots vs. Bears: Cairo Santos' 58-yard kick, Luther Burden III's big night lift Chicago 30-24

The New England Patriots’ three-game winning streak ended Thursday night at Soldier Field. Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns, Luther Burden III piled up 130 receiving yards in the first half, and Cairo Santos bounced back from a miss to hit a career-long 58-yard field goal as the Chicago Bears held on for a 30-24 win on Thursday Night Football, Oct. 22.

The Patriots never led. Chicago improved to 5-2, and New England fell to 4-3.

Patriots vs. Bears: How the game unfolded

Chicago jumped ahead early. Santos hit a 43-yard field goal on the opening drive, and D’Andre Swift’s 4-yard run, set up by a 58-yard catch-and-run by Burden, made it 10-0 in the first quarter, according to the Bears’ official recap.

Drake Maye answered with a 7-yard touchdown run. Officials first ruled him short, but replay overturned the call after he took a big hit and stretched the ball toward the goal line, ESPN reported. The Bears then scored 10 straight points, including a 24-yard screen-pass touchdown by Burden with 14 seconds left in the half. Before that, linebacker D’Marco Jackson intercepted Maye in the end zone, the only turnover of the game.

New England struck back on the final play of the half. With three seconds left and the ball at the Chicago 48, the Bears were expecting a Hail Mary. Instead, Maye lobbed a short pass to Rhamondre Stevenson, who weaved 48 yards for a touchdown to cut it to 20-14.

Williams hit Colston Loveland for a 12-yard score to open the second half. Maye replied with a 30-yard touchdown pass to tight end Eli Raridon against a six-man blitz, making it 27-21.

Cairo Santos’ career-long kick

Santos hit the right upright on a 53-yard attempt with 7:57 left. On the next drive, Williams found Rome Odunze for 21 yards on third-and-9 from the Chicago 10. After a sack pushed the Bears back, Santos drilled a 58-yarder with 1:34 left for a 30-21 lead. His previous career best was 55 yards. NBC Chicago reported that the kick tied Robbie Gould’s 58-yarder from 2013 for the longest field goal in Bears history, and ESPN said it tied for the third-longest ever at Soldier Field.

“I told HT, ‘I want it,’” Santos said, referring to special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, per the Bears’ recap. “On the 58-yarder, the ball didn’t move.”

Andy Borregales hit a 47-yard field goal for New England with 37 seconds left, but Odunze recovered the onside kick to seal it.

Key stats: Drake Maye, Caleb Williams and Luther Burden III

• Drake Maye (NE): 24-of-31, 321 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 4 rushes for 26 yards and a TD
• Caleb Williams (CHI): 22-of-33, 308 yards, 2 TD, no interceptions
• Luther Burden III (CHI): 4 catches, 130 yards, 1 TD, all in the first half
• D’Andre Swift (CHI): 22 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD. The Patriots ran for 70 yards as a team.

Mike Vrabel’s Patriots and the turnover problem

Maye’s interception came on an inaccurate throw into the end zone from the Chicago 15. ESPN reported it was his third interception this season on a pass thrown into the end zone. The Patriots have 14 giveaways and a minus-7 turnover margin. Coach Mike Vrabel had vented about it during the week: “We turn the ball over at a historic rate, and it’s ridiculous. It’s an embarrassment.”

The defense also gave up big plays, including completions of 58 and 26 yards and three 21-yarders, ESPN noted.

Injuries

Bears tight end Cole Kmet was carted off with a knee injury in the fourth quarter. “I don’t think it looked very good,” coach Ben Johnson said. Rookie cornerback Malik Muhammad left with a toe injury, according to the team. ESPN did not report any major Patriots injuries.

FAQ

Did the Bears win today? Yes. Chicago beat New England 30-24 on Thursday, Oct. 22.

What is the Patriots’ record? New England is 4-3 after the loss.

When do the Patriots play next? At the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Nov. 1, on CBS, per ESPN.

When do the Bears play next? At the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, Nov. 2, on ESPN.