Williams connects with Loveland to set up Santos' winning field goal as Bears edge Buccaneers 27-24
CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Williams found Colston Loveland for a 38-yard catch to set up Cairo Santos' 38-yard field goal as time expired, and the Chicago Bears picked up a sloppy 27-24 victory over Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.
Chicago (7-2) committed five turnovers, including a career-high four interceptions by Williams. But he delivered after Mayfield rallied the Buccaneers in the final minutes.
Loveland was pushed out of bounds at the Tampa Bay 16 with 40 seconds left. After two kneel-downs by Williams, Santos delighted the crowd of 60,470 by drilling his second field goal of the night.
Chicago had a 24-16 lead when Luther Burden fumbled with 3:38 left and Tampa defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu returned the ball to the Bears 17.
Bucky Irving had an 11-yard carry before going in from the 6 for his second touchdown of the game. Mayfield scrambled for the 2-point conversion, tying it at 24 with 2:51 left.
Mayfield was 18 for 32 for 243 yards and two interceptions. Irving finished with 97 yards on 20 carries.
Mayfield failed to complete a pass in Tampa Bay’s previous game, a 16-0 win over Atlanta in wet conditions. The Buccaneers (3-6) rushed for a franchise-record 324 yards in the victory over the Falcons, including 170 for Irving.
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