Bucs force five turnovers but fall 27-24 to Bears on last-play field goal
Tampa Bay rallied to tie it with 2:51 left, but Cairo Santos' 38-yard kick as time expired won it for Chicago on Sunday Night Football.
CHICAGO - Cairo Santos kicked a 38-yard field goal as time expired to give the Chicago Bears a 27-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night at Soldier Field, according to the Buccaneers' official game reports.
Tampa Bay forced five turnovers, a season high, including four interceptions of Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. Cornerback Zyon McCollum had two, and safety Tykee Smith and linebacker Alex Anzalone had one each. Ifeatu Melifonwu recovered a fourth-quarter fumble at the Chicago 21, setting up the tying score.
Chicago led 14-0 after its first two possessions, on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Rome Odunze and a 56-yard catch-and-run by Luther Burden III. Chase McLaughlin kicked a 27-yard field goal for Tampa Bay, Santos answered from 25 yards, and McLaughlin's 21-yarder just before the half made it 17-6.
Bucky Irving's 2-yard run cut the lead to 17-13 in the third quarter, but Jaylon Johnson returned a Baker Mayfield interception 67 yards for a touchdown and a 24-13 Bears lead. McLaughlin added a 35-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Irving then scored from 6 yards out and Mayfield ran in the two-point conversion to tie it 24-24 with 2:51 left. Tampa Bay's offense did not get the ball back.
Mayfield completed 18 of 32 passes for 243 yards with two interceptions. Irving ran 20 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns, and Tez Johnson caught two passes for 76 yards. Williams threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa Bay outgained Chicago 352 yards to 349 but converted 2 of 12 third downs, and a 91-yard Bears return touchdown was called back for holding. Emeka Egbuka returned from a two-game absence and caught three passes for 38 yards.
The loss ended a two-game winning streak and dropped the Bucs to 3-6. They have a bye in Week 10 and play next at the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m. ET at Ford Field, according to the team's schedule.
Sources: Buccaneers.com Rapid Reaction: Bears 27, Buccaneers 24, game recap and 2026 schedule, opened Nov. 9, 2026.