The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had chances to beat one of the hottest teams in the NFL on Sunday night. They just didn’t do enough to win the game. While Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles settled for three short field goals and multiple offensive errors, 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 late, but Williams responded with a big pass to tight end Colston Loveland, which set up a game-winning field goal as time expired. Chicago won 27-24 and the Buccaneers will very much regret letting one slip away. The Bears improved to 7-2 but their offense shut down and made mistakes to help Tampa Bay stay in the game. Tampa Bay showed that to win a big game on the road, you have to be more aggressive to achieve the surprise. The Buccaneers played well, stayed in the game and ultimately went home with a loss. Tampa Bay racks up turnovers The Bears got off to a good start and looked like they could beat the Buccaneers. They allowed a 9-yard touchdown reception to Rome Odunze and a 56-yard touchdown reception to Luther Burden III. Two Chicago possessions into the game, Tampa Bay trailed 14-0. AdvertisementThen the turnovers began. The Bears had the ball inside the Bucs’ 10-yard line on their third drive, but rookie receiver Zavion Thomas took an unnecessary roughness penalty that set Chicago back. On the next play, Caleb Williams threw an interception. That seemed to get into Williams’ head. The play after the Buccaneers were caught by a quarterback sneak on a fourth-and-1 in their own territory, Williams threw a ball 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 got a field goal, Williams kicked another and Tampa Bay had its third interception of the night. Tampa Bay didn’t take full advantage, although they stayed in the game. On two occasions, Bowles settled for field goals near the goal line instead of being aggressive with his team behind him. The first time the Buccaneers kicked a 25-yard field goal on fourth-and-4 at 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 for one more play before halftime, but again scored a short field goal. The Buccaneers were still in the game when they scored early in the third quarter, but they trailed 17-13 and had missed too many opportunities. However, the Bears were unable to eliminate them. The Buccaneers tied it at the end. Williams threw another interception on a deflected pass in the third quarter. He had never thrown three interceptions in an NFL game and suddenly had four on Sunday night. Once again, Tampa Bay had trouble taking advantage. Baker Mayfield never seemed to notice cornerback Jaylon Johnson lurking underneath in coverage and threw him an interception, which Johnson returned for a 67-yard touchdown and a 24-13 Chicago lead. Tampa Bay’s defense was remarkable in the second half. The Buccaneers allowed just one first down in the first 28 minutes after halftime. That kept the game close. In the fourth quarter, Bowles went for the ball 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 Chicago’s lead to 24-16, but required the Buccaneers to stop the Bears, put together a touchdown drive, make the 2-point conversion, preventing the Bears from winning in regulation and then Tampa from winning in overtime. However, they began to check those boxes. Burden lost a fumble on a third-down catch that would have been less than a first down, and Tampa Bay recovered at the Chicago 17-yard line with 3:38 left. Two runs by Bucky Irving got the Bucs into the end zone and Mayfield climbed up the middle for the 2-point conversion and a tie. But the Buccaneers had only tied it and Chicago had enough time to respond. Williams got the drive going and 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 to score the field goal and the victory. Cairo Santos scored the game-winning goal and Chicago took the victory, knowing that the Buccaneers gave them plenty of chances to do it in the end. Live45 Updates Mon, 09 Nov 2026 01:04 am UTC Ryan Young Mon, 09 Nov 2026 04:39 am UTC Ryan YoungCairo Santos drills it from 38 yards and the Bears survived a wild “Sunday Night Football” outing at Soldier Field. They beat the Buccaneers 27-24. Mon, 09 Nov 2026 04:36 AM UTC Ryan Young Caleb Williams is back. He simply connected with Coleston Loveland for a 38-yard gain, and the Bears are suddenly in field goal range. Monday, November 9, 2026 04:30 am UTC Ryan YoungBucky Irving has found the end zone for the second time tonight! The two-point attempt was good too. Baker Mayfield just kept it himself. We are all tied, 24-24, with 2:51 left. Mon, 09 Nov 2026 04:27 am UTC Ryan Young Luther Burden was inactive for quite some time after that fumble and needed help getting off the field. Finally he left alone. Monday, November 9, 2026 04:25 am UTC Ryan YoungWow. What a mistake by the Bears. They threw a screen pass on third down to try to seal the victory, but Luther Burden fumbled. The Bucs now have it back inside the red zone and can tie it. Mon, 09 Nov 2026 04:20 AM UTCRyan Young The Bucs couldn’t convert on third and long, so they opted to punt it. They still have two timeouts, so a quick stop here would give them a chance. Mon, 09 Nov 2026 04:18 am UTC Ryan Young This was the first of consecutive sacks for the Bears defense, and the Bucs are looking at third and long again. Mon, 09 Nov 2026 04:16 am UTC Ryan Young Austin Booker grabbed Baker Mayfield by the mask while sacking him on third down. That’s a huge penalty that keeps Tampa’s momentum alive. Monday, November 9, 2026 04:12 am UTC Ryan Young Add another punter to this list, and it’s notable that the Bears are leading. The Buccaneers will take control at their own 15-yard line with 8:03 left in the game. They’re running out of time to close this. Monday, November 9, 2026 04:02 am UTC Ryan YoungBaker Mayfield put the Bucs in scoring position, but their drive stalled. A 35 yard field goal also works and we have an 8 point game. The Bears lead 24-16 with 11:24 left. Monday, November 9, 2026 03:51 am UTC Ryan Young Neither team in the last five series has recorded a single first down. The Bears are punting again near the end of the third. They also tried to fake the punt, but were penalized for a false start. Mon, 09 Nov 2026 03:49 am UTC Ryan YoungKalif Raymond simply botched a punt return after a quick stop again, but managed to recover the ball to stop the turnover. The Bears have possession once again. Mon, 09 Nov 2026 03:44 am UTC Ryan YoungWhat’s happening at Soldier Field? Baker Mayfield just threw a pick-6 on his first play after Caleb Williams’ interception, and took a pretty big hit at the goal line. Jaylon Johnson gets the touchdown and Chicago is now up 24-13 at the end of the third. Wow, Monday, Nov 09, 2026 03:42 am UTC Ryan Young Make four interceptions for Caleb Williams now, although that 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. Monday, November 9, 2026 03:37 am UTC Ryan Young Well, maybe not. A holding penalty doomed that drive for the Bucs, and Baker Mayfield limps off after missing Egbuka on third down. That’s the stop Chicago needed. Now we’ll see if the Bears offense can accomplish anything. Mon, 09 Nov 2026 03:36 am UTC Ryan Young That punt ended up going about 25 yards after it was barely blocked at the line, so Tampa will start in Bears territory. The Bucs have all the momentum right now. Mon, November 9, 2026 03:33 AM of pressure in the backfield. There was no interception, but it was a third down. The Bucs will take back control. Monday, November 9, 2026 03:27 am UTC Ryan YoungAustin Booker just drilled Baker Mayfield in the backfield on a third down. The Bears defense has forced another three-pointer and they will get the ball back. Monday, November 9, 2026 03:21 am UTC Ryan Young Caleb Williams is no better after the break. He only missed Raymond there twice and he still seems very out of place. The Bears have to punt for the first time tonight and Tampa will have a chance to take the lead with a touchdown.
