After Bears head coach Ben Johnson initially called for a punt late in Thursday night’s win over the Patriots, Bears kicker Cairo Santos convinced his coaches to let him try the 58-yard field goal that sealed the win.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Santos had missed a 53-yard field goal attempt, and Santos had never made a field goal as long as 58 yards in his NFL career. So it’s easy to understand why Johnson was planning to punt. But Santos told special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, whom the players call HT, that he would make the 58-yarder if given the chance.
“I was right next to HT and Ben originally called a punt, and then the injury allowed us to talk about it. I was talking to HT that I felt good about it,” Santos said. “Ben asked, ‘Does he want it?’ And I heard it and I told HT I want it and he said, ‘Ben, Cairo says he wants it.’ Thankful that Ben trusted me on that, and I delivered a great kick right down the middle.”
Why was Santos confident he could make a 58-yarder only minutes after missing a 53-yarder?
“It’s just who I am, really,” Santos said. “The misses annoy me, but I can clear it so quick. The next opportunity, I can just lock into my routine and trust that I can execute.”
Johnson was wise to trust his kicker, and that 58-yarder proved to be the play that clinched the win for the Bears.