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The final game of Week 9's Sunday slate saw the Chicago Bears extend their winning streak to four games with a 27-24 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite a rocky outing from quarterback Caleb Williams. The 24-year-old signal-caller threw four interceptions—the most in a single game of his young career—while guiding the offense to just 20 points. His passer rating (61.5) and completion percentage (59.5%) were both season lows.
Yet when it mattered most, Williams engineered an eight-play, 49-yard drive that culminated in a Cairo Santos field goal, sealing the win. "I've been through it [before]," Williams said postgame. "I know to stay steady. I'm happy I've had those moments before—being able to learn from them. So that's what we're going to do." The Bears, now 6-2, head into their bye week before hosting the Saints in Week 11, giving Williams a chance to reset.
Elsewhere, Tom Brady returned to Gillette Stadium to call the Patriots' 45-27 loss to the Packers for Fox, the Cowboys edged the Colts in a last-minute thriller, and Joe Burrow put on a show in the Bengals' dominant win over the Falcons in Madrid. The week concludes Monday night as the Vikings host the Bills at U.S. Bank Stadium (8:15 p.m. ET).
Key Analysis
While Williams's interception barrage stands out as a low point, his resilience in the clutch prevented it from costing Chicago the game. The Bears' defense and running game provided enough support to secure the win, but Williams's turnover issues will need to be addressed during the bye week. Meanwhile, Burrow's four-touchdown performance in Madrid—his first international game—further solidified his MVP candidacy. The Bengals' quarterback has now accounted for 16 touchdowns in his past four games, and his connection with Ja'Marr Chase (10 receptions, 155 yards, one score) was on full display.
Other notable winners and losers from Week 9 include the Chiefs' failed quarterback sneak experiment with Justin Fields, the Giants' seven-sack outburst against the Eagles, and the Commanders' questionable final play call in their loss to the Rams. The Packers' receiving duo of Christian Watson and Matthew Golden torched the Patriots for 335 combined yards, while Cowboys rookie safety Caleb Downs nabbed his first career interception against his brother Josh's Colts to seal a 27-23 victory.