Bears turn to bye week after sloppy 27-24 win over Buccaneers
Caleb Williams threw a career-high four interceptions in Sunday’s victory, prompting coach Ben Johnson to call the performance below the team's standards.
By Beatriz Soto ·
The Chicago Bears will spend their upcoming bye week correcting errors made during a 27-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Coach Ben Johnson stated that the team failed to meet its internal benchmarks despite securing the victory. He noted that good teams measure success by how they play, not just by the final score. Johnson said the crew felt the performance lacked quality, which he views as the next step in the team's development.
The Bears finished the game with a 7-2 record and a four-game winning streak. However, the win required a 38-yard field goal by Cairo Santos as time expired. The team committed five turnovers and faced a wide array of other mistakes throughout the night.
Caleb Williams threw four interceptions, a career-high for the quarterback. Three of those picks came in the second quarter, and one occurred in the third. Williams had been intercepted only once in his first five games this season. He turns 25 on Nov. 18.
Offensive lineman Jonah Jackson said the team is happy to win but knows there is work to do. He mentioned that there are many areas on tape that need fixing. Jackson believes the team can be better in the next game.
Chicago built a 14-0 lead early in the contest. The team struggled to extend that lead due to penalties and turnovers. Johnson credited Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles with presenting a challenging defensive unit. He acknowledged that the middle quarters did not reflect the Bears' usual style of play.
The defense showed progress with the addition of Jeffery Simmons. The All-Pro defensive tackle recorded one sack in each of his first two games since being traded from Tennessee. Linebacker Devin Bush finished with a game-high nine tackles. Shemar Turner recorded his first career sack in the third quarter while Simmons was on the field.
The Bears have been penalized 40 times for a total of 361 yards during their current win streak. One penalty against Tampa Bay was a holding call on D'Marco Jackson. That call erased a 91-yard kickoff return by Zavion Thomas in the third quarter.
Cam Lewis intercepted Baker Mayfield in the final minute of the first half. He made a diving catch in front of receiver Tez Johnson. The play was Lewis' second career interception. He signed a two-year contract with Chicago in free agency and has become a key player in an injury-plagued secondary.
Wide receiver Luther Burden left the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion. There was no update on his status as of Monday. The Bears will host the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 22 following the bye week. They beat the Saints 26-14 at Soldier Field last season.
