Bears vs. Saints score: New Orleans wins overtime thriller as Drew Brees outduels Nick Foles

The Saints stayed on track in the NFC South with a thrilling OT victory

The New Orleans Saints found a way to survive in the "Windy City," as Wil Lutz hit a game-winning 35-yard field goal in overtime to hold off a frantic Chicago Bears comeback Sunday night. The Saints blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead in the 26-23 victory, but Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara still made sure the Saints kept pace with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South race. 

Brees is -- once again -- the NFL's career leader in touchdown passes with 560, the first quarterback in league history to toss 560 touchdown passes. He led the Saints on a seven-play, 52-yard drive for the win. Brees went 2 for 3 for 20 yards in the game-winning drive, but Kamara's 20-yard run from the Bears' 31 set up Lutz for the chip shot field goal and the victory. Kamara finished with 163 total yards, including nine catches for 96 yards to lead New Orleans. Brees finished 31 of 41 for 280 yards and two touchdowns. 

Foles struggled at times, but was clutch in the fourth quarter to take the game to overtime. The Bears quarterback went 6 for 6 for 55 yards to find Darnell Mooney for a 3-yard touchdown to cut the Saints lead to 23-20 with 3:32 left. After Kamara was stopped on third-and-4 by Danny Trevathan for a loss of three yards, Foles took the Bears on a 12 play, 35-yard drive -- highlighted by a 15-yard pass to Anthony Miller on third-and-18 -- to set up Cairo Santos for a 51-yard field goal in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime. 

Foles finished 28 of 41 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while David Montgomery finished with 21 carries for 89 yards in the loss. Allen Robinson led Chicago with 87 receiving yards and a touchdown as Chicago failed to overtake the Green Bay Packers for first place in the NFC North. 

Here are our takeaways from the Saints win, and you can catch a quick recap in our live blog below. 

Why the Saints won 

Alvin Kamara is the only real offensive weapon when the Saints don't have their top three receivers. The best running back in the league this year -- no disrespect to Dalvin Cook -- was on a mission Sunday as he finished with 163 yards from scrimmage. That was the third game Kamara has recorded 160-plus yards from scrimmage on the year. Kamara had the second longest reception of his career -- 48 yards -- in the first half, and his 20-yard run sealed the victory for New Orleans in overtime. Brees has needed Kamara all year to get the Saints to 5-2 and keep the offense rolling. Kamara is 100% healthy and showing it. 

Why the Bears lost

Inconsistency has plagued the Bears offense all season, and it happened again in overtime. Foles led the Bears back from a 10-point deficit in regulation, but did nothing in overtime. The Bears ran six plays for eight yards in one of the worst overtime possessions you'll see, with Foles taking two sacks -- including one on third-and-10 when he couldn't escape the pocket -- and throwing two incomplete passes that should have been catchable. Allen Robinson made an excellent 17-yard catch on third-and-15 to even keep the drive going. For a team that only needed a score to win the game after the defense stopped New Orleans, the Bears offense came up way short. 

Turning point

The Saints faced a second-and-8 at the Bears' 36 yard line when Brees threw a pass yards short of Deonte Harris. The incomplete pass looked like a poor throw by Brees, but the quarterback saw Harris being held by Buster Skrine, so he threw the ball in the vicinity. Perhaps Brees didn't sell the throw enough, but the Saints drew the illegal contact penalty and the automatic first down. That set up Kamara's 20-yard run to give Lutz a chip shot. 

Play of the game

The longest run by Kamara was the biggest one for him and the Saints, as head coach Sean Payton called for a run to the right side with his best offensive player. At the Bears' 31-yard line, Kamara had an excellent block on the outside and took the run 20 yards to set Lutz up for a 35-yard attempt and the win. Kamara had an okay rushing day until that 20-yard run, finishing with 12 carries for 67 yards. 

The quote

Janoris Jenkins took down Javon Wims after he sucker punched Saints defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson in the third quarter. Wims was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct as Jenkins made sure his teammate wasn't ejected too. Jenkins and Gardner-Johnson both played college football at Florida. 

Up next

The Saints (5-2) will battle the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for first place in the NFC South on "Sunday Night Football" at Raymond James Stadium. The Bears (5-3) head to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans. 

[Nov 1, 2020 at 8:00 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

Lutz makes it and that's the game. Saints go to 5-2, Bears to 5-3. Four in a row for the Saints, two losses in a row for the Bears who lose out on retaking 1st in the NFC North. Great ball game.

[Nov 1, 2020 at 7:59 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

The Saints kicking here for the win, but a miss on 1st down gives the Bears the ball back.

[Nov 1, 2020 at 7:56 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

Doesn't matter. Alvin Kamara just won the game for the Saints --assuming Lutz makes a FG he normally does.

[Nov 1, 2020 at 7:55 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

So there's a penalty on a ball that was thrown five yards short of the receiver? Wa sit illegal contact? Yes. Brees can throw it better to the receiver.

[Nov 1, 2020 at 7:47 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

Nick Foles pressured by Cam Jordan again and had no where to go. Saints getting the ball back. If they don't score on this possession, we may be getting a tie.

[Nov 1, 2020 at 7:45 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

Nick Foles is making play after play after play on 3rd-and-long. Willing the Bears to potential victory.

[Nov 1, 2020 at 7:41 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

Watch Hill on the fake.

[Nov 1, 2020 at 7:40 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

Roquan Smith almost had the walk off pick 6. That was a dangerous throw by Brees.

[Nov 1, 2020 at 7:38 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

Pretty sure that may be a hold on Trequan Smith. Takes away a nice Kamara run.

[Nov 1, 2020 at 7:31 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

If the Bears win, Foles will have his 3rd comeback win of the year -- which would be tied for most in the NFL.