If you’re still trying to catch your breath after Cairo Santos’ game-winning field goal, just know that you are not alone.
In case you missed it, the Chicago Bears won another thriller in Week 11. This one, like so many others this season, came down to the game’s final moments. And with everything riding on Santos’ right foot, the Brazillian-born kicker booted it through the uprights to turn what would have been a 17-16 defeat against the Minnesota Vikings into a 19-16 win for the Bears.
BEARS WIN! Week 11 Instant Player Grades | Game Recap With Highlights
If you were wondering what it was like in Cairo Santos’ head down the stretch, the Bears kickker laid it out in a post-game interview on Marquee Sports Network with radio play-by-play voice Jeff Joniak:
"In my head, I'm just kind of praying for (an) opportunity to make the game-winning kick."Cairo Santos discussed his mindset during the final minute of the game. pic.twitter.com/DQASLmdJtD
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) November 16, 2025Words from Cairo Santos:
“When the Vikings scored the touchdown and extra point and went up by one, in my head I’m just praying for an opportunity to make the game-winning kick. And when (Devin Duvernay) took that play, to me, it felt like it was a prayer that answerd. So I always want to give glory to God in everything that I’m able to do and the team got down closer when Duv already put us in field goal range, but the team made it easier for me. I just had to make it right for the team.”
Credit to Cairo for making good on a second chance. You don’t always get a chance to make amends for your misfires. But not only did Santos get it, he drilled it to help his team pick up its seventh win of the season.
Cairo Santos saves the day with game-winning field goal
As you might expect, Cairo Santos was treated with the Player of the Game treatment after this win:
King Cairo pic.twitter.com/gOPryOSZmO
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 16, 2025Cairo Santos made 4 of 5 field goals and accounted for 13 of the 19 points the Bears scored in their win against the Vikings. On the year, Santos is 16 of 20 on field goals and had connected on all 20 of his extra-point attempts. However, that 80 percent success rate is his a disappointing number when you consider his career field goal percentage is 85.2 percent. And since re-joining the Bears in 2020, Santos had an 89 percent success rate on field goals.
The good news is that we know that Cairo Santos has been better than what he has shown. But the bad news is that he hasn’t kicked as well as he has in the past. I’m not sure if it is related to an injury he was dealing with earlier in the year that caused him to miss two games. But he is healthy now and not on the injury report. So, moving forward, he needs to be better. Full stop. Otherwise, we’ll be doing the old song and dance of browsing through the waiver wire in search of kickers and wondering if it should be Jake Moody’s time to shine.
Even though the Bears special teams provided the heroics at the end of Week 11, Chicago’s football team needs better from its special teams. It also needs more accuracy and consistency from Cairo Santos, especially if the squad is going to make its first playoff appearance since 2020. Perhaps nailing a game-winner as time expired to secure Ben Johnson’s first win against a division foe as the Bears’ head coach will get Cairo Santos back on the right track.
Nov 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos (8) kicks a game-winning field goal during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn ImagesHence then, the article about inside cairo santos thoughts before game winning field goal i m just praying for an opportunity was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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