The Bears are known for overcoming adversity since Ben Johnson became coach last season, and the latest chapter transpired Thursday night at Soldier Field.
Despite miscues in all three phases and the loss of tight end Cole Kmet to a knee injury, the Bears escaped with a wild 30-24 victory over the Patriots.
After hitting the right upright on a field goal attempt that could have given the Bears a two-score lead with 7:57 to play, Cairo Santos drilled a career-long 58-yard field goal that put the Bears 30-21 with 1:21 to play.
The Patriots closed the gap to 30-24 on Andy Borregales' 47-yard field goal with :37 to play, but Rome Odunze recovered the subsequent onside kick to secure the Bears' fourth win in their last five games.
Kyler Gordon picked up on the first possession of Thursday night's game where he left off last Sunday in Atlanta, sacking quarterback Drake Maye on fourth-and-5 from the Chicago 45, turning the ball over on downs.
On the Bears' first play from scrimmage, Williams connected with Luther Burden III for a 26-yard gain to the New England 28. That set up Santos' 43-yard field goal, giving the Bears a 3-0 lead with 9:53 left in the first quarter.
After the defense forced its second straight three-and-out, the Bears extended their lead to 10-0 on D'Andre Swift's 4-yard TD run late in the first quarter.
The TD was set up by Williams' 58-yard pass to Burden to the New England 4. Burden caught the ball across the middle at the Patriots' 44, turned up field and received an excellent downfield block by Odunze.
The Patriots answered with a 9-play, 74- drive capped by Maye's 7-yard TD run, cutting the deficit to 10-7 early in the second quarter.
The Bears responded by scoring the next 10 points. After Santo' 31-yard field goal made it 13-7, the defense registered its first takeaway of the game as D'Marco Jackson intercepted a Maye pass in the end zone on first-and-10 from the 15.
Burden once again showed his excellent run-after-the-catch ability, turning a screen pass into a 24-yard TD that put the Bears ahead 20-7 with :14 left in the half. He caught Williams' pass at the 28 and zigzagged through the defense, picking up blocks from Colston Loveland and Kalif Raymond.
That was not the end of the scoring in the first half, however. With :03 remaining, the Patriots had the ball at the Bears' 48. Maye dumped off a short pass to running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who weaved through the Bears defense for a touchdown that closed the gap to 20-14.
In the first half, Williams completed 9 of 16 passes for 167 yards and Burden had four receptions for 130 yards. Maye connected on 12 of 15 passes for 169 yards.
The Bears rebounded from the end-of-half adversity by opening the third quarter with a 9-play, 72-yard drive capped by Williams' 12-yard TD pass to Loveland, widening the margin to 27-14. Williams rolled to his left and hit Loveland, who broke a tackle and powered through three defenders into the end zone.
The Patriots followed by closing the gap to 27-21 on Maye's 30-yard TD pass to tight end Eli Raridon, beating a Bears blitz with 3:46 left in the third quarter.
The Bears had a chance to take a two-score lead, but Santos' 53-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright. The kick came after Williams completed passes of 21 yards to Odunze on third-and-11 from the Chicago 13 and nine yards to Loveland on fourth-and-2 from the Patriots' 43.
After the defense forced a three-and-out, the offense marched to the New England 30. But on third-and-5, Williams was sacked for a 10-yard loss, pushing the Bears back to the 40. Undeterred, Santos boomed a 58-yard field goal, the longest of his career, to increase the lead to 30-21 with 1:34 to play.
The Patriots added Borregales' 47-yard field goal, but Odunze recovered the onside kick to seal the victory.
With the win, the Bears improved to 5-2. They will be back in action a week from Monday night against the Seahawks in Seattle.
