CHICAGO BEARS KICKER Cairo Santos (#8) celebrating a Christmas Eve Bears win over the Arizona Cardinals in the Soldier Field locker room. (Photo courtesy Chicago Bears)
The Chicago Bears improved to 6-9 on the season with a 27-16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, December 24, at Soldier Field.
The Bears offense scored 27 points on Sunday after being held to 17 points by the Cleveland Browns defense last week.
“You start the game down 21-0,” said Head Coach Jonathan Gannon via the Arizona Cardinals Twitter Page. “It’s tough to dig back but I did think that we fought back.”
In the first half, the Bears jumped out to a 21-0 lead. The team scored 7 points in the first quarter and 14 points in the second quarter for a 21-7 halftime lead.
“The game came out, obviously a hot start there, coming out 21-0, and really did a good job with defense making—you know, holding serve there and making a punt,” said Bears coach Matt Eberflus. “And the offense did a good job after the first series, scoring three in a row, so that was really good. Overall, the offense runs for 250, we are excited about that. A lot of times when you have a number like that, your quarterback is a big part of that. So 97 yards by him. Had some really dynamic scrambles and runs.”
Eberflus added on Fields and the offense: “What was cool, though, was that he looked down the field a lot of times, and he made some passes, too, which is what he’s been working on. That was really good. And Herbert gets his 20 carries and over a hundred yards, which is good to see.”
According to Bears PR, running back Khalil Herbert recorded 20 carries for 112 yards with one touchdown. His 11-yard touchdown rush in the second quarter marked his first of the season and seventh of his career. This was also Herbert’s tenth career touchdown. He reached 100 carries on the season in the fourth quarter. His 112 yards today mark a season-high and second-most of his career.
Final Score: Bears 27, Cardinals 16
With the win, the Bears are now 6-9 on the season and will play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, December 31, at home. Game time is noon.
Bears and Santos agree to
four-year deal
A day prior to the game, Bears signed-kicker Cairo Santos to a four-year deal.
“It is great to extend Cairo for another four years,” said General Manager Ryan Poles. “His consistency and dependability will help us continue to elevate.”
According to the Chicago Bears, the 5-8, 175-pounder, signed as a free agent prior to the 2020 season. He is currently 27-for-29 on field goals and 24-for-26 on extra points this season. He ranks tied for fourth in the NFL in field goals made and tied for 11th among kickers in total points scored (105). Santos is one of four kickers this season to have a perfect field goal percentage from 50-plus yards (6-for-6). His six, 50+ yard field goals are also the most he has made in a single-season in his career.
He was also named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in November in recognition of his outstanding play throughout the month. He went 12-for-14 on field goals and 5-for-5 on extra points, including a 30-yard game-winner in Week 12 against the Vikings.
Santos led the NFL in field goals made, field goals attempted and in points (41), the Bears stated. Since 2020, Santos has connected on 104-of-114 field goal attempts. His 91.2 field goal percentage across that span is the fifth-best mark in the NFL (min. 40 FGM). He is the most accurate kicker in Bears history (90.2%) (min. 100 FGM) and ranks fifth on the Bears all-time field goals list with 105, sitting five behind Paul Edinger (110), added the Bears.
Currently in his 10th season, Santos originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014 out of Tulane University. His career numbers include 212-for-248 on field goals and 275-for-290 on extra point attempts with a career long of 55 yards (twice). Santos has also tallied 911 points, the 12th most in the NFL since 2014, says Bears PR.
Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.
