Bears Reflect on Narrow Victory Over Buccaneers

Following a close 27-24 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night, members of the Chicago Bears expressed that this win could serve as a wake-up call. Nickel corner Kyler Gordon remarked after the game, “Good little nip in the butt.” Guard Jonah Jackson added, “I wouldn’t say we needed an ugly win, but a win’s a win at the end of the day. It’s a credit to the guys that we’ve got in this locker room.” The Bears clinched the win with a deep pass from Caleb Williams to Colston Loveland, followed by a decisive 38-yard field goal by Cairo Santos.

Coach Ben Johnson shared his gratitude for the win. “There’s a certain standard that we want to hit week in and week out,” Johnson said. “Even when victories are achieved, missing benchmarks leaves more to be desired.” He emphasized that this win was the next step in the team’s development, not only in terms of success but also the quality of play.

Cam Lewis, a former Buffalo Bills defensive back, noted, “It wasn’t the prettiest. We didn’t play our best ball as a collective unit. Special teams had many penalties, and the offense turned the ball over, yet we still won. That’s what you expect from a good football team.” He expressed optimism, “Once we put it all together, we can make a significant run.”

Key Learnings From the Bears’ Win

1. Vulnerable Protection for Caleb Williams

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams faced pressure with Buccaneers cornerback Keionte Scott causing turnovers. In the game on November 8, 2026, the Bucs deployed a high blitz rate, pressuring Williams and leading to four interceptions. Protection breakdowns compounded the problem. For instance, Joe Thuney and others struggled to handle blitzes, resulting in turnovers.

Ben Johnson stated the need for better protection. “We’ve got to block it better,” he emphasized. The team aims to fix these issues by improving blocking strategies.

2. Learning from Close Calls

Caleb Williams had an unusually high four interceptions during the game. Ben Johnson analyzed the situation: “We didn’t see the coverage as well as we would’ve liked. We made attempts to avoid disaster but didn’t execute properly.” He acknowledged the challenging defense by mentioning Todd Bowles’ strategies.

The team recognizes areas for improvement in decision-making under pressure.

3. Scrutiny on the Running Game

The Bears’ running game is under examination. Averaging less than 4 yards per attempt in recent games, the team recognizes the need for improvement. Ben Johnson commented, “We’re going to need to lean on that run game more as weather changes.” The issue of achieving explosive plays remains critical.

Johnson plans to address these issues during the bye week. He is considering factors like the lack of explosive runs and the line’s movement. Running back D’Andre Swift has struggled, especially without Kyle Monangai, who missed recent games due to injuries.

Johnson highlighted Monangai’s importance, saying, “He’s proven his worth. Once he’s back, our team and running game will improve.”