Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) runs for a touchdown against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum (27). (AP Photo/David Banks)
(AP Photo/David Banks)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had an opportunity to beat one of the hottest teams in the NFL on Sunday night. They just didn’t do enough to win the game.
Between Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles settling for three field goals and multiple offensive miscues, including a pick 6 by Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers let the Chicago Bears escape on a night in which Caleb Williams threw four interceptions. Tampa Bay tied it up late, but Williams responded with a big pass to tight end Colston Loveland, who set up a game-winning field goal as time expired. Chicago won 27-24 and the Buccaneers will have a lot of regrets letting one slip away.
The Bears improved to 7-2, but their offense got shut down and made mistakes to help Tampa Bay stay in the game. But it was not enough, after being down 14-0 at the start of the match, to be passive.
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Tampa Bay showed that to win a big game on the road, you have to be more aggressive to create an upset. The Buccaneers played well, stayed in the game and ultimately came away with a loss.
Tampa Bay suffers turnovers
The Bears got off to a good start and it looked like they could blow out the Buccaneers. They gave up a 9-yard touchdown to Rome Odunze and a 56-yard touchdown to Luther Burden III. Two Chicago possessions into the game, Tampa Bay trailed 14-0.
Then the turnovers started. The Bears had the ball inside the Tampa Bay 10-yard line on their third drive, but rookie receiver Zavion Thomas took an unnecessary roughness penalty that put Chicago back. The next play, Caleb Williams threw an interception. This seemed to get into Williams’ head. The play after the Buccaneers found themselves stuffed with a quarterback on a fourth-and-1 in their own territory, Williams threw a touchdown off his back foot for his second interception in two passes. He had thrown one interception all season before Sunday, in 158 attempts. After Chicago scored a field goal, Williams kicked another and Tampa Bay had its third interception of the night.
Tampa Bay didn’t take full advantage, even though they stayed in the game. Twice, Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles decided to settle for field goals near the goal line instead of being aggressive with his team trailing. The first time, the Buccaneers scored a 25-yard field goal on fourth-and-4 from the Bears’ 7-yard line. At the end of the first half, the Bucs took the ball to the 3-yard line and had time to run one more play before halftime, but they made a short field goal again.
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The Buccaneers were still in the game when they scored early in the third quarter, but still trailed 17-13 and had missed numerous opportunities. But Chicago couldn’t put them aside.
Buccaneers tie him up late
Williams threw another interception on a deflected pass in the third quarter. He had never thrown three interceptions in an NFL game and as a result, he had four on Sunday night. But once again, Tampa Bay struggled to take advantage.
Baker Mayfield never seemed to notice cornerback Jaylon Johnson hiding under coverage and threw him an interception, which Johnson returned for a 67-yard touchdown and a 24-13 Chicago lead.
But Tampa Bay’s defense was outstanding in the second half. The Buccaneers allowed just one first down in the first 28 minutes after halftime. This kept the match close.
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In the fourth quarter, Bowles continued on fourth-and-4 at the Chicago 12-yard line to settle for a short field goal for the third time in the game. That cut the Bears’ lead to 24-16, but it still took the Buccaneers to stop Chicago, set up a touchdown, make the two-point conversion, prevent the Bears from winning regulation, and then Tampa Bay won the game in overtime. They have, however, started to check those boxes.
Burden lost a fumble on a third-down reception that would have been less than a first down, and Tampa Bay recovered at the Bears’ 17-yard line with 3:38 left. Two Bucky Irving points got the Bucs into the end zone and Mayfield rushed up the middle for the two-point conversion and a game-tying game.
But the Buccaneers had only equalized and Chicago had plenty of time to respond. Williams launched the drive, then the Buccaneers lost Loveland in coverage. He gained 38 yards. After a half in which the Bears barely moved the ball, one big play was enough to give them a chance at a field goal and victory.
Cairo Santos scored the game-winner and Chicago took the win, knowing the Buccaneers gave them plenty of chances to win in the end.
Ryan Young
Ryan Young
Cairo Santos drills it from 38 yards out and the Bears survive a wild “Sunday Night Football” drive at Soldier Field.
They beat the Buccaneers 27-24.
Ryan Young
Caleb Williams is back. He just connected with Coleston Loveland for a 38-yard gain, and the Bears were suddenly within field goal range.
Ryan Young
Bucky Irving found the end zone for the second time tonight! The 2-point attempt was also good. Baker Mayfield kept it himself.
We’re all tied, 24-24, with 2:51 left.
Ryan Young
Luther Burden was down for some time after that fumble and needed help getting off the field. He finally left on his own.
Ryan Young
Wow. What a mistake by the Bears.
They threw a screen pass on third down to try to seal the victory, but Luther Burden lost the ball.
The Bucs are now back in the red zone and can tie it.
Ryan Young
The Bucs couldn’t convert on third-and-long, so they opted to punt. They have two more timeouts, so a quick stop here would give them a chance.
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It was the first of back-to-back sacks for the Bears defense, and the Bucs are once again looking at third-and-long.
Ryan Young
Austin Booker grabbed Baker Mayfield by the facemask while sacking him on third down. It’s a huge penalty that keeps Tampa’s drive alive.
Ryan Young
Add another punt to that list, and it’s remarkable that the Bears are in the lead.
The Buccaneers will take over at their own 15 with 8:03 remaining. They are running out of time to complete this matter.
Ryan Young
Baker Mayfield put the Bucs in scoring position, but their drive stalled. A 35 yard field goal works too, and we have an 8 point game.
The Bears lead 24-16 with 11:24 left.
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Neither team on the last five drives had a single first down. The Bears regained the upper hand towards the end of the third.
They also attempted to fake the punt, but were called back for a false start.
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Kalif Raymond just missed a punt return after a quick stop, but he was able to recover the ball to stop the turnover.
The Bears have possession again.
Ryan Young
What’s going on at Soldier Field?
Baker Mayfield just threw a pick-6 on his very first play after Caleb Williams’ interception, and he took a pretty big hit at the goal line.
Jaylon Johnson gets the touchdown and Chicago leads 24-13 now late in the third. Wow.
Ryan Young
Throw four interceptions for Caleb Williams now, although this one wasn’t entirely his fault. He tried to find Luther Burden, but the ball was deflected up and straight into the arms of Alex Anzalone.
Ryan Young
Well, maybe not. A holding penalty doomed this drive for the Bucs, and Baker Mayfield limped after missing Egbuka deep on third down.
It was the stop Chicago needed. Now we’ll see if the Bears offense can get anything going.
Ryan Young
This punt ended up going about 25 yards after being just barely blocked on the line, Tampa will therefore start in Bears territory.
The Bucs have all the momentum right now.
Ryan Young
Caleb Williams threw it successfully that time after a ton of pressure in the backfield. No interceptions, but it was third down.
The Bucs will take over.
Ryan Young
Austin Booker just broke through Baker Mayfield in the backfield on third down. The Bears defense forced another three-and-out, and they would get the ball back.
Ryan Young
Caleb Williams is not doing better after the break. He narrowly missed Raymond twice, and he still looks really bad. The Bears need to punt for the first time tonight, and Tampa will have a chance to take the lead with a touchdown.
Gn sports
