Caleb Williams, Bears Survive 5 Turnovers to Beat Bucs

Caleb Williams had thrown four interceptions and the game was tied 24-24 in the final minute. On second-and-9 from his own 46, he found Colston Loveland wide open, and the tight end rumbled down the sideline to the Tampa Bay 16. Two kneel-downs later, Cairo Santos drilled a 38-yard field goal as time expired, and the Chicago Bears beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 on Sunday Night Football at Soldier Field, the Associated Press reported.

Chicago is 7-2 with four straight wins, and it got there while committing five turnovers. It was the Bears’ first win with five or more giveaways since a 23-13 win over Minnesota in December 2006. Tampa Bay drops to 3-6, which leaves New Orleans and Carolina, both 3-5, on top of the NFC South.

Williams Kept Ripping It

The night started perfectly. Williams hit a wide-open Rome Odunze for a 9-yard touchdown on the first drive, then Luther Burden III broke a couple of tackles on a third-and-8 catch and went 56 yards to make it 14-0 in the first quarter. The next two Chicago drives ended in Williams interceptions, and the Bucs crawled back.

Williams finished 22 of 37 for 279 yards and two touchdowns, but the four picks were a career high. His answer afterward was simple: he is not going to get gun shy, and he is going to keep ripping it. Burden had seven catches for 97 yards before a concussion ended his night.

Jaylon Johnson’s Swing Play

With Chicago up 17-13 late in the third quarter, Williams threw his fourth pick, a deflection that Alex Anzalone caught to give Tampa Bay the ball at the Bears 37. On the very next snap, Jaylon Johnson jumped in front of a Baker Mayfield throw meant for Cade Otton and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown. It was Johnson’s first interception of the season and the biggest play of the night.

Tampa Bay still found a way to tie it. Rookie Rueben Bain Jr. knocked the ball loose from Burden, Ifeatu Melifonwu returned it to the Chicago 17, and Bucky Irving scored from the 6 for his second touchdown. Mayfield scrambled in for the 2-point try to make it 24-24 with 2:51 left. Irving finished with 97 yards on 20 carries, and Mayfield went 18 of 32 for 243 yards with two interceptions.

Smacktok pick lean: Chicago has a bye before hosting the Saints, so the next play is a ways off. When it comes, lean higher on Colston Loveland receiving yards. Williams went to him on the biggest throw of the night, and with Burden in the concussion protocol, there are targets to go around. If Burden is cleared, keep the Loveland lean but expect his volume to dip.

Five turnovers, one walk-off kick, and the Bears still sit at 7-2. That is a team that knows how to close.