Bears say they didn't play up to
their standards during a sloppy win over the Bucs
[November 10, 2026]
By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears have lofty expectations for their
play. They failed to meet those standards in a sloppy win over Tampa
Bay.
The focus on that complete picture was an important development for
coach Ben Johnson.
“I think the good teams, even when they get victories, if they don’t
hit those benchmarks, then there leaves some more to be desired,”
Johnson said, “and I felt that from our crew, which is a good thing.
I think that’s the next evolution of this team, not just that we win
but the manner in which we play. So we’ve got to continue that.”
The Bears hit their bye week with a four-game win streak and a 7-2
record. But they weren't exactly thrilled with how they performed in
the last part of Sunday's 27-24 victory over the Buccaneers.
The biggest issue was five turnovers, including a career-high four
interceptions by Caleb Williams. But the Bears made a wide array of
mistakes before Cairo Santos kicked a 38-yard field goal as time
expired, lifting the team to an unlikely victory given how it played
for much of the night.
“A win’s a win so you’re obviously happy about it,” offensive
lineman Jonah Jackson said Monday. “To our standard, it wasn’t
exactly what we want it to be. There’s a lot of things on tape that
we need to fix and clean up. Nothing that we can’t be better on next
game.”
Chicago jumped out to a 14-0 lead over Tampa Bay. But it was unable
to put the Bucs away because of turnovers and penalties. Johnson
also credited Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles and his defense.
“It is a good unit and they make it very challenging,” Johnson said.
“In some ways, we started the game off right and we finished it
strong, but that middle second and third quarter, that wasn’t quite
our style of play.”
What's working
Jeffery Simmons has one sack in each of his first two games after he
was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Tennessee. It looks as if
the All-Pro defensive tackle also is having a positive effect on the
rest of Chicago's defense.
Linebacker Devin Bush had a game-high nine tackles against Tampa Bay
after he had six tackles and a sack in Simmons' debut with the
Bears. Simmons also was on the field when Shemar Turner got his
first career sack in the third quarter against the Bucs.
What needs help
The Bears have been penalized 40 times for 361 yards during their
win streak. One of their nine penalties against the Buccaneers was a
questionable holding call on D’Marco Jackson that wiped out a
91-yard kickoff return by Zavion Thomas in the third quarter.
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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks on in the second
half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game in
Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Stock up
Cam Lewis picked off Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield in the final minute
of the first half, making a diving catch in front of receiver Tez
Johnson. It was Lewis' second career interception.
The versatile Lewis has turned into a key player for a Chicago
secondary that has been hit hard by injuries. He signed a two-year
contract with the Bears in free agency.
"I’m just really, really having fun playing with (this) group of
guys, and just trying to get better,” Lewis said.
Stock down
Williams got off to a fast start before throwing three interceptions
in the second quarter and one more in the third. He was picked off
once — in Week 2 against Minnesota — in his first five games this
season.
“I know he was trying to dirt or throw away a couple of those, and
we just got to do a better job of getting that job done,” Johnson
said. “The other one’s just the coverage recognition part of it.
That’s what a Todd Bowles defense is known for, and they can make it
challenging. And so there’ll be good ones for us to put in our
memory bank and draw from next time we go against a team like that.”
Williams, who turns 25 on Nov. 18, has 55 touchdown passes and 18
interceptions in 40 regular-season games since he was selected by
Chicago with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft.
Injuries
There was no update on wide receiver Luther Burden, who left in the
fourth quarter of Sunday's win because of a concussion.
Key number
7 — Santos has made seven game-winning field goals in the final two
minutes or overtime with the Bears, ranking third in franchise
history.
Up next
Following the bye week, the Bears host the New Orleans Saints on
Nov. 22. The Bears beat the Saints 26-14 at Soldier Field last year.
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