- Oct 16, 2026
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The Bears defeated the Patriots on Thursday night after kicker Cairo Santos converted a career-long 58-yard field goal late in the contest.
Coach Ben Johnson initially called for a punt during the closing moments. However, an injury timeout created time for discussion, and Santos approached special teams coordinator Richard Hightower to request the long attempt. Despite missing a 53-yard field goal earlier in the fourth quarter, Santos expressed confidence he would convert.
Johnson sought confirmation from his staff, asking whether Santos wanted the opportunity. The coach then sent the kicker onto the field for the 58-yard try, which Santos drilled to seal the victory. The successful kick marked the longest field goal of his NFL career.
Santos said, "The misses annoy me, but I can clear it so quick."
Source: ProFootballTalk - Fri Oct 23, 5:42 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).