The Chicago Bears beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 on Sunday Night Football on November 8, 2026, at Soldier Field in Chicago. Cairo Santos kicked a 38-yard field goal with three seconds left to win the game. The final drive covered 49 yards in eight plays, and Caleb Williams took kneel-downs to center the ball before Santos kicked the winner. Chicago moved to 7-2 with its fourth straight win, while Tampa Bay fell to 3-6. The game was shown on NBC and Peacock in clear weather at 55 degrees.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final score | Chicago Bears 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 |
| Date | Sunday, November 8, 2026 |
| Location | Soldier Field, Chicago |
| Broadcast | NBC and Peacock |
| Weather | Clear, 55 degrees |
| Game-winning play | Cairo Santos 38-yard field goal with 3 seconds left |
| Bears record | 7-2, fourth straight win |
| Buccaneers record | 3-6 |
| Bears quarterback | Caleb Williams, 22 of 37, 279 yards, 2 touchdowns, 4 interceptions |
| Buccaneers quarterback | Baker Mayfield, 18 of 32, 243 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions |
| Total yards | Chicago 349, Tampa Bay 352 |
| Turnovers | Chicago 5, Tampa Bay 2 |
| Third down | Chicago 7 of 13, Tampa Bay 2 of 12 |
| Time of possession | Tampa Bay 32:52, Chicago 27:08 |
A Fast Start Gave Chicago Control
The Bears started the game the way every home team dreams of starting a prime time game. They scored on their first two drives and led 14-0 before Tampa Bay had found any rhythm at all. The opening touchdown came at 9:46 of the first quarter, when Caleb Williams threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Rome Odunze. The drive was calm and controlled, and it set the tone for a first quarter that belonged to Chicago.
The second touchdown was much more explosive. At 6:12 of the first quarter, Williams found Luther Burden III on a 56-yard touchdown pass. Burden finished the night with seven catches for 97 yards, and that long touchdown was the biggest play of his game. Odunze added four catches for 60 yards, and his touchdown carried extra meaning because it was a tribute to teammate Cole Kmet, who is out for the season with a serious right knee injury.
Tampa Bay did not score in the first quarter, and the 14-0 lead gave Chicago room to breathe. In a game that would later turn into a turnover battle, that early cushion mattered.
Williams Threw Four Interceptions and the Bears Still Led at Halftime
The second quarter was strange, and it was the part of the game that will be talked about the most. Caleb Williams threw three interceptions in the second quarter alone, and four in the game. It was the first four-interception game of his career at college or pro level. Yet Chicago still led 17-6 at halftime, which tells the story of how well the Bears defense played and how little Tampa Bay got from its takeaways.
Tampa Bay scored only three points off the four interceptions. That is the key number from the night. The Buccaneers kept getting the ball back, but they kept failing to turn those chances into touchdowns. Chase McLaughlin kicked a 27-yard field goal at 13:52 of the second quarter to make the score 14-3. Cairo Santos answered with a 25-yard field goal at 3:06 to make it 17-3.
The interceptions came from Zyon McCollum, who picked off Williams twice, Tykee Smith, and Alex Anzalone. Each one gave Tampa Bay hope, and each time the Bears defense held firm. Williams kept throwing, and his coaches kept trusting him. He finished 22 of 37 for 279 yards with two touchdowns, and his early touchdown passes were still the reason Chicago led.
Johnson Pick-Six Turned the Game Back Toward Chicago
The third quarter started with Tampa Bay pushing back. Bucky Irving scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown at 11:40 of the third quarter, and the score became 17-13. Irving was the best player on the Tampa Bay offense all night. He finished with 20 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns, plus four catches for 28 yards.
Then the game turned again, and it turned fast. Williams threw his fourth interception, a pass tipped by Jacob Parrish and caught by Alex Anzalone. Two plays later, Jaylon Johnson intercepted Baker Mayfield and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown at 3:50 of the third quarter. The score became 24-13, and Soldier Field erupted.
Mayfield finished 18 of 32 for 243 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Cam Lewis also intercepted Mayfield, so the Tampa Bay quarterback had his own turnover problems. The Johnson touchdown was the biggest defensive play of the night. Tampa Bay had fought back to within four points, and in the space of two plays it was behind by 11 again. The Bears beat the Seahawks 34-17 on Monday night in an earlier prime time game this season, and the same kind of team effort showed up again here, with the defense lifting the offense when it needed help.
Tampa Bay Fought Back to Tie the Game Late
The fourth quarter tested Chicago one more time. Tampa Bay did not quit, and the final minutes were tense. McLaughlin kicked a 35-yard field goal at 11:24 of the fourth quarter to make the score 24-16. That cut the lead to one score, and the Buccaneers still had time. Then Irving scored his second touchdown of the night, a six-yard run at 2:56 of the fourth quarter, and Mayfield completed a two-point conversion pass to tie the game at 24-24.
At that point, the game felt like it could go either way. Chicago had led most of the night, but Tampa Bay had tied it with less than three minutes left. The Bears had turned the ball over five times, including four interceptions and one lost fumble, while Tampa Bay had only two turnovers. Chicago had also lost the time of possession battle, holding the ball for 27:08 compared with 32:52 for Tampa Bay. The total yardage was almost even, with Chicago at 349 yards and Tampa Bay at 352.
The tie also showed what Tampa Bay can do when it stays patient. Irving kept running hard, and Tez Johnson added two catches for 76 yards. The Buccaneers had won two straight games before this one, and they played like a team that believed it could win on the road.
The Final Drive and the Santos Winner
The final drive was simple, calm, and well executed. Chicago moved 49 yards in eight plays, and Williams did what was needed without forcing a risky throw. The Bears got into field goal range, and then Williams took kneel-downs to center the ball for Santos. That is the kind of detail that matters in a close game. A centered ball gives the kicker a clean look, and Santos made the most of it.
Santos kicked a 38-yard field goal with three seconds left, and the final score became 27-24. He finished the night two of two on field goals and three of three on extra points. McLaughlin was also perfect, going three of three on field goals and one of one on extra points.
The win was also important for the standings. Chicago is now 7-2 and heading into its Week 10 bye on a four-game winning streak. If the Bears win and the Minnesota Vikings lose to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, Chicago sits atop the NFC North. That is a strong place to be at the bye, and it gives head coach Ben Johnson time to fix the turnover problem without losing momentum. Tampa Bay, coached by Todd Bowles, is now 3-6, and the loss ends its two-game winning streak. The Buccaneers will need to find a way to turn takeaways into touchdowns, because four interceptions should have been enough to win this game.
Other players also played a part in the win. D’Andre Swift had 12 carries for 31 yards, and Colston Loveland had four catches for 54 yards. Chicago was better on third down, converting seven of 13 chances while Tampa Bay converted only two of 12. That gap helped Chicago hold its lead even while turning the ball over. The Packers beat the Patriots 45-27 on November 8 in another game from the same day, and the Texans beat the Chargers 44-22 as Stroud threw five touchdowns on November 8, so Sunday was full of big scores around the league.
FAQs
Who won the Bears vs Buccaneers game on November 8, 2026?
The Chicago Bears won 27-24 at Soldier Field on Sunday Night Football. Cairo Santos kicked a 38-yard field goal with three seconds left to win the game after an eight-play, 49-yard final drive.
How many interceptions did Caleb Williams throw?
Caleb Williams threw four interceptions, the first four-interception game of his career at college or pro level. Three of them came in the second quarter. He still finished 22 of 37 for 279 yards with two touchdown passes, and Tampa Bay scored only three points off the four takeaways.
What was the biggest play of the game?
The biggest play was Jaylon Johnson returning an interception 67 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. It came two plays after Williams threw his fourth interception, and it turned a 17-13 game into a 24-13 Chicago lead.
What is next for the Chicago Bears?
The Bears are 7-2 and head into their Week 10 bye on a four-game winning streak. If the Minnesota Vikings lose to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, Chicago sits atop the NFC North at the bye.
Sources
Final Thoughts
This was a win that showed both sides of the Chicago Bears. The offense made big plays early, with two first-quarter touchdowns, and then made serious mistakes, with four interceptions and a lost fumble. The defense answered those mistakes, holding Tampa Bay to three points off the takeaways and scoring a 67-yard touchdown of its own. The special teams finished the job, with Santos calm and perfect when the game was on the line.
For Chicago, the record is what matters most right now. At 7-2 with a four-game winning streak and a bye week ahead, the Bears are in a strong spot. The turnovers need to be fixed, because five giveaways will lose most games, and Williams will know that better than anyone. But winning a game like this, when the quarterback has his worst night and the team still finds a way, can build real belief. For Tampa Bay, the lesson is clear. Four interceptions should lead to a win, but only if the offense turns them into points. The Buccaneers fought back to tie the game late and showed fight on the road, yet they leave Chicago at 3-6. Santos and his 38-yard kick will be the moment people remember, and it was a fitting end to a wild Sunday night.
