Bears suffer overtime loss to Vikings due to costly special teams errors
Cairo Santos had another field goal blocked, and DeAndre Carter muffed a punt in the second half, adding to the long list of special teams mistakes for the Chicago Bears. These errors played a big part in the Bears’ fifth straight loss, as Minnesota won 30-27 in overtime. Santos’ blocked field goal and Carter’s turnover set up two of Minnesota’s three touchdowns.
The Bears (4-7) ended a tough three-game homestand, which began with three early-season wins. They had a chance to win last week against Green Bay, but Santos’ 46-yard field goal attempt was blocked on the last play, allowing the Packers to win 20-19.
“It’s tough… When things just aren’t going your way, you gotta put your head down and just keep going to work,” said tight end Cole Kmet. “It’s not easy to do, but that’s kind of where we’re at.”
Chicago and Minnesota were tied at 7 when Caleb Williams threw an incomplete pass on third-and-4 at the Vikings’ 30-yard line early in the second quarter. Coach Matt Eberflus sent Santos out for a 48-yard attempt, but defensive lineman Jerry Tillery blocked it.
“I think it was the penetration with the trajectory of the ball,” Santos said. “Had the ball started 3 or 4 inches to the right of both those guys’ hands, I think it still goes in through the uprights.”
The blocked kick was returned 22 yards by Brian Asamoah, putting Minnesota in great field position. Sam Darnold then capped a six-play, 53-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor, giving the Vikings a 14-7 lead with 6:29 left in the first half. This was Santos’ third blocked field goal of the season, the most for Chicago in a single year since 2012. Santos had another 43-yard attempt blocked in a 35-16 win over Jacksonville on October 13.
The Bears became the first NFL team to allow three blocked field goals in a season since the Browns and Ravens each allowed three in 2022.
“Whenever that happens two games in a row, we’ve got to make sure we take a hard look in terms of the protection, the technique, and who we have in there,” said Eberflus. “So it’s going to be a big thing to look at.”
Trailing 17-10, the Bears forced a Minnesota punt midway through the third quarter. Carter warned his teammates to stay away from the ball, but it bounced off his right leg and was recovered by Bo Richter at the Bears’ 15-yard line. The Vikings quickly turned the mistake into a 2-yard touchdown run by Aaron Jones, extending their lead to 24-10.
“Gotta get out of the way of the ball. That’s on me,” Carter said. “I let the team down today. Game shouldn’t have been in the situation it was in. I felt bad for the guys.”
Both Santos and Carter helped the Bears rally late. Carter returned a 55-yard kickoff, and Santos recovered an onside kick before making a 48-yard field goal to tie the game at the end of regulation.
But in overtime, the Bears stalled on their first possession. Darnold then led the Vikings downfield to set up a 29-yard field goal by Parker Romo, giving Minnesota the win.
“We’re losing in the most unreal situations,” said Bears receiver DJ Moore. “Now it’s like the luck’s got to go in our favor at some point.”
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