Bears Rally At End Of Regulation, But Saints Nail Overtime Field Goal And Bears Lose
CHICAGO (CBS/AP) — Drew Brees threw two touchdowns to regain the NFL's all-time lead from Tom Brady, Wil Lutz nailed a 35-yard field goal in overtime and the New Orleans Saints beat Chicago 26-23 on Sunday.
The Bears' Cairo Santos booted a 51-yard field goal at the end of regulation to force the extra period.
The Saints (5-2) led 23-13 early in the fourth quarter after scoring 20 consecutive points, only to have Chicago rally in the closing minutes of regulation. But the three-time defending NFC South champions pulled out their fourth straight win when Lutz connected on their second possession of OT.
The Saints had a first down at the 16 when coach Sean Payton called on him. And Lutz delivered, sending the Bears (5-3) to their second straight loss. New Orleans tied Tampa Bay for the division lead, with Brady and the Buccaneers meeting the struggling New York Giants on Monday night.
Chicago receiver Javon Wims got ejected for punching New Orleans safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the third quarter. Marshon Lattimore then intercepted Nick Foles, leading to a tiebreaking field goal by Lutz.
For the Bears, that third quarter just felt like a total meltdown, CBS 2's Matt Zahn reported.
Bears head coach Matt Nagy was especially disappointed in the incident with Wims.
"There is issues there. That's what bothers me. That's what pisses me off is that there is that issue still going on," Nagy said. "If you have somebody throwing punches, when you have the things that are going on right now with us in the offense, and just trying to get things going. Guys are fighting, they're sticking together, but then you have that happen – it takes away everything."
Brees added a 20-yard touchdown to Taysom Hill to make it 23-13 early in the fourth period. The Bears (5-3) pulled within three with 3:32 remaining on Foles' 3-yard pass to Darnell Mooney.
After the Saints went three-and-out, the BEars tied it with 13 seconds left on Santos' field goal into the wind.
Brees picked apart the Monsters of the Midway, completing 31 of 41 passes for 280 yards. Along with the TD to Hill in the fourth, he threw a 16-yarder to Jared Cook in the closing seconds of the first half to cut the Bears' lead to 13-10. Brees now has 560 TDs in his career, with Brady at 559.
Alvin Kamara joined Matt Forte and LaDainian Tomlinson as the only running backs in NFL history with 50 or more receptions in each of his first four seasons. The three-time Pro Bowl pick had nine catches — giving him 55 on the year — for 96 yards. He also ran for 67 yards, and the Saints won their sixth in a row against the Bears.
Foles was 28 of 41 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Allen Robinson, who spent most of the week in the NFL's concussion protocol, had a sprawling 24-yard TD reception in the back of the end zone in the second quarter. Rookie Darnell Mooney added a career-high 69 yards receiving and a touchdown.
David Montgomery ran for a season-high 89 yards, but the Bears came up short after getting dominated by the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.
"You've got to let it hurt sometimes. You've got to let it hurt. You don't work all week to come in on Sunday and not perform the way you want to perform. We didn't get that tonight. So it's going to hurt. You're going to have that long drive home and you're going to be thinking about the things you want to do better," said Bears defensive tackle Akiem Hicks. "Do them better."
INJURIES
Saints: DT Sheldon Rankins (knee) got banged-up late in the first half and walked off the field. ... WR Michael Thomas, the 2019 AP Offensive Player of the Year, missed his sixth straight game because of two separate injuries sandwiched around a one-game suspension. ... The Saints were also without WR Marquez Callaway, who caught caught eight passes for 75 yards last week against Carolina.
Bears: RG Bobby Massie (knee) was hurt blocking a run on Chicago's first possession and walked off the field gingerly. ... DE Roy Robertson-Harris (shoulder) was injured in the first half. ... C Cody Whitehair (calf) was inactive after leaving Monday's loss to the Rams, leaving the Bears without two starters on the line. LG James Daniels (pectoral injury) has been sidelined since Oct. 8.
UP NEXT
Saints: visit Tampa Bay next Sunday.
Bears: visit Tennessee next Sunday.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
