CHICAGO — Cairo Santos faced a disappointing moment as his field goal was blocked yet again, while DeAndre Carter had a missed opportunity with a muffed punt in the second half. These special teams errors contributed to a troubling outing for the Chicago Bears, who are now on a five-game losing streak. Chicago’s mistakes laid the groundwork for two of Minnesota’s three touchdowns in their 30-27 overtime defeat.
The Bears (4-7) concluded a rough three-game homestand on a low note after initially securing victories in their first three season games at Soldier Field. Last weekend, they were on the cusp of defeating the Green Bay Packers when Santos saw his 46-yard field goal attempt blocked during the final play of a tight 20-19 loss.
“It’s really tough. When things are going against you, all you can do is keep your head down and work harder,” tight end Cole Kmet reflected on the challenges the team faces. He acknowledged that maintaining morale is a challenge under the current circumstances.
With the score tied at 7, Chicago’s Caleb Williams faced a crucial third down at the Vikings’ 30-yard line early in the second quarter but threw an incomplete pass. Bears coach Matt Eberflus then opted to send Santos for a 48-yard attempt; however, it was blocked by defensive lineman Jerry Tillery. Santos noted that a slight shift in the ball’s angle might have resulted in a successful kick. “
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“Had the ball started just a few inches to the right, it would likely have gone through the posts,” Santos explained.
After the blocked attempt, Brian Asamoah returned the kick 22 yards, providing Minnesota with advantageous field position. Quarterback Sam Darnold then found Jalen Nailor for a 5-yard touchdown pass, extending the Vikings’ lead to 14-7 with just over six minutes left in the first half.
This marks Santos’ third blocked field goal of the season, making it the highest number of blocks in a single season for Chicago since 2012. Additionally, he had a 43-yard attempt blocked during a previous game against Jacksonville earlier this season.
The Bears have now become the first team in the NFL to permit three blocked field goals in a single season since the Browns and Ravens each faced similar situations in 2022. “We need to analyze our protection and techniques closely,” Eberflus stated, emphasizing the significance of addressing this recurring issue.
Trailing 17-10 midway through the third quarter, the Bears were in a position to recover from Minnesota’s punt. However, Carter’s attempt to warn teammates to move away from the ball went awry as it hit him, leading to a recovery by Bo Richter at the Bears’ 15-yard line. The Vikings capitalized on the misstep, enabling Aaron Jones to score on a 2-yard touchdown run and extending the lead to 24-10.
Carter took responsibility for the mishap. “I should have let the ball go. I let everyone down with that play, and we shouldn’t have been in that position,” he admitted, expressing regret for his teammates.
Nevertheless, Santos and Carter were instrumental in a late comeback effort for Chicago. Carter returned a kickoff for 55 yards, and Santos successfully executed an onside kick that led to a tying 48-yard field goal just as regulation ended.
Unfortunately for the Bears, their momentum faltered during their first overtime possession, allowing Darnold to guide the Vikings downfield for Parker Romo’s decisive 29-yard field goal that secured the victory.
“We keep losing in the most unbelievable ways,” Bears receiver DJ Moore commented. “At some point, things have to turn in our favor.”