Cairo Santos wasn’t smiling in the Bears’ locker room even after hitting a career-long 58-yard field goal Thursday night to salt away the Bears’ 30-24 win against the Patriots.
He was still "annoyed" with himself after hitting the left upright on a 53-yard try earlier in the fourth quarter that would have put the Bears ahead by nine. Santos has missed a field goal in each of his last three games — a 43-yarder wide left against the Packers and a 56-yarder wide left against the Falcons.
“I’m having a hard time celebrating these moments,” he said. “I shouldn’t act this way. But I just feel lieke I’m hitting the ball way too good to have these misses happen. Even though they’re from 50-plus, I’ve been making them all the time.”
Santos said he hit the left upright because he was trying to play a draw.
Quarterback Caleb Williams had taken a sack on third-and-five from the Patriots’ 30 with 1:39 to play. New England defensive lineman Christian Barmore was hurt on the play. Johnson had wanted to punt, but talked to special teams coordinator Richard Hightower during the injury timeout.
He asked if Santos wanted to kick the 58-yarder. Santos had already told his position coach that he did. Kicking into the south end zone, Santos had made 60-yard kicks during warmups.
"Just thankful I got the opportunity to bounce back," he said.
