Saints hold on for a 23-22 overtime victory over the Browns by stopping a 2-point conversion

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints second-year quarterback Tyler Shough likes to think he has a refined and thoughtful approach to remaining calm and in control in the clutch.

He backed it up against the Cleveland Browns and fellow second-year QB Shedeur Sanders on Sunday.

Shough floated a 15-yard timing pass to Juwan Johnson toward the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown for New Orleans in overtime, and the desperate Saints stopped a do-or-die, 2-point conversion to hold on, 23-22.

“We go down to the end of the game, he gets better and better," Saints receiver Chris Olave said of Shough. "He’s calm and collected and we’ve got the utmost confidence in Tyler.”

After the Saints (3-5) scored on the first possession of overtime, Cleveland answered when Harold Fannin Jr. turned a short pass from Sanders into a tackle-breaking, 39-yard touchdown with a minute left in overtime.

The Browns (5-4) opted for a 2-point conversion for the win, but Sanders was forced to roll right under pressure from Carl Granderson and threw incomplete, giving the Saints their first win at home this season.

“We looked at ourself in the mirror and we know what we've got to do,” said Granderson, who had two of the Saints' five sacks. “It’s time to turn this thing around now and we’re excited to get the next one. So, stay tuned.”

Cleveland coach Todd Monken said he never considered kicking the extra point.

“You’re not going to get the ball back, probably. So, you’re really saying tie or lose if you kick the extra point,” Monken said. “That’s not me. It was going to be win or lose.”

The thrilling finish followed a pedestrian first 54 minutes during which neither team scored a touchdown.

“We could have very easily lost the game and we could be sitting here talking about how we have to be better — and we have to,” Shough said. “Every single week it’s going to be a fight.”

The Saints led 9-6 after Charlie Smyth — who made three of four field goal attempts after being elevated from the practice squad this week — split the uprights from 48 yards. But on Cleveland’s next offensive play, Sanders spotted KC Concepcion Jr. racing past cornerback Martin Emmerson Jr. and hit him for a 64-yard, go-ahead score with 5:33 left.

The Saints took a late 16-13 lead on newly reacquired running back Audric Estime's 2-yard touchdown with 58 seconds left in the fourth quarter, capping a 55-yard drive that spanned just 50 seconds.

But Sanders, with the help of a 30-yard completion to Jerry Jeudy, was able to move the Browns to the Saints 33, setting up Andre Szmyt’s tying 51-yard field goal.

“It was cool to even be able to get in that position,” Sanders said. “The moment never felt big, so that’s how I know I’m growing as a quarterback in this league.”

Shough finished 21 of 35 for 265 yards and one TD.

“I have the utmost belief in myself," Shough said. “But I also know I have so much more to grow.”

Olave highlighted a seven-catch, 98-yard performance with a 33-yard reception to the 10-yard line to set up the late TD by Estime, who finished with 72 yards on 15 carries just five days after being claimed off waivers from Cleveland.

"I just had a feeling that my time was coming,” said Estime, who made the Saints' Week 1 roster before being waived in late September. “It was definitely a roller coaster, but that’s just life, honestly. There’s ups and downs and it’s how you navigate those.”

Sanders was 19 of 31 for 297 yards and two TDs in his first start this season in place of Deshaun Watson, who sat out after spending part of the past week in the NFL's concussion protocol.

Denzel Boston caught six passes for 98 yards and Concepcion had four catches for 85 yards for Cleveland, which has lost two straight.

Poor red-zone execution by both teams left the game tied at 3 at halftime.

With two turnovers in the second quarter, the Saints went from being poised to take the lead to needing a defensive stop on their own goal line.

New Orleans had just reached the Cleveland 11 on rookie Barion Brown's 52-yard catch when fellow rookie Jordyn Tyson — the eighth overall pick in last spring's NFL Draft — followed two plays later with his first career reception inside the 5. But Tyson, making his NFL debut after missing seven games with a hamstring injury, fumbled at the 2 while diving forward.

“He was able to contribute and make some positive plays," Saints coach Kellen Moore said of Tyson, who finished with four receptions for 30 yards. "We’re going to have to protect the football, but he’ll get to learn from that.”

New Orleans' defense forced a quick punt, but Brown fumbled away his return when Adin Huntington caught him from behind near the Saints 20.

Donovan McMillon recovered for Cleveland, setting the Browns up to also squander a scoring chance when Quinshon Judkins was stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

Browns: RG Austin Barber received treatment on the field for an apparent left leg injury. ... S Ronnie Hickman limped into the injury tent late in the fourth quarter.

Saints: C Erik McCoy left with a biceps injury.

Browns: Host the Houston Texans next Sunday.

Saints: Host the Carolina Panthers next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

New Orleans Saints' Audric Estimé carries against the Cleveland Browns in overtime of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) carries for a first down after a long pass completion in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96) celebrates after a sack of Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) carries against the New Orleans Saints in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (83) catches a touchdown pass in front of Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit (9) in overtime of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. . (AP Photo/Ella Hall)

CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears played one of their worst games of the season — and won.

That last part was the only thing that mattered to them Sunday night.

Williams found Colston Loveland for a 38-yard reception that set up Cairo Santos' 38-yard field goal as time expired, and the Bears picked up a sloppy 27-24 victory over Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Chicago (7-2) committed five turnovers, including a career-high four interceptions by Williams. But he delivered after Mayfield rallied the Buccaneers in the final minutes.

“I don’t get gun shy. That’s not me. That’s not my identity,” Williams said. “And with that, I’m going to keep ripping it and keep ripping it.”

With Chicago facing a second-and-9 from its own 46 in the final minute, Williams passed to a wide-open Loveland at the Tampa Bay 35. The tight end ran down the sideline before he was pushed out of bounds at the 16.

After two kneel-downs by Williams, Santos delighted the crowd of 60,470 by drilling his second field goal of the night.

It was Chicago's first win with five-plus turnovers since a 23-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 3, 2006.

“It’s hard to win with five turnovers and yet we found a way to do it,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said. “They know that we didn't play as well as we’re capable of playing but I believe the best is yet to come in terms of our football in the back half of the season. So we’ll continue to build that as we go forward.”

Chicago had a 24-16 lead when Luther Burden fumbled on a helmet-to-helmet hit by Tampa Bay rookie Rueben Bain Jr. Bucs defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu returned the ball to the Bears 17.

Bucky Irving had an 11-yard carry before going in from the 6 for his second touchdown of the game. Mayfield scrambled for the 2-point conversion, tying it at 24 with 2:51 left.

Mayfield was 18 for 32 for 243 yards and two interceptions. Irving finished with 97 yards on 20 carries.

Mayfield failed to complete a pass in Tampa Bay’s previous game, a 16-0 win over Atlanta in wet conditions. The Buccaneers (3-6) rushed for a franchise-record 324 yards in the victory over the Falcons, including 170 by Irving.

Williams was 22 for 37 for 279 yards and two touchdowns in Chicago’s fourth straight win. Burden had seven catches for 97 yards before he was shelved by a concussion. Jeffery Simmons had a sack in his first home game since he was acquired in a trade with Tennessee.

The Buccaneers and Bears were the NFL’s top rushing teams going into the weekend, but there wasn’t much room to maneuver on the ground. The Bucs finished with 126 yards rushing, and the Bears had 72.

Chicago had a 17-13 lead when Williams threw his fourth interception of the night, a deflected ball that landed in the hands of Tampa Bay linebacker Alex Anzalone. The Buccaneers took over at the Bears 37 with 4:32 left in the third quarter.

One play later, Mayfield tried to throw the ball to Cade Otton, but Jaylon Johnson stepped in front of the tight end and returned the interception 67 yards for his second career pick-6. It was his first interception of the season.

“That obviously was the difference in the game,” Mayfield said. “Defense, after they settled in, played amazing. So, you got to make the throws, you got to be more accurate.”

Chicago got off to a fast start, scoring on its first two possessions. Williams passed to a wide-open Rome Odunze for a 9-yard touchdown on the first drive of the game. Then Burden broke a couple of tackles while turning a third-and-8 reception into a 56-yard TD, making it 14-0 with 6:00 left in the first quarter.

But the next two possessions for the Bears ended with interceptions by Williams, and the Buccaneers rallied by scoring on each side of halftime. Chase McLaughlin kicked a 21-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, and Tez Johnson’s 58-yard catch set up Irving’s 2-yard TD early in the third.

“They came out real hot, and I thought we were on our heels a little bit,” coach Todd Bowles said. “Then the younger guys settled down a little bit and we started playing football.”

Buccaneers: S Antoine Winfield Jr. (ankle) departed in the second quarter with an ankle injury.

Bears: CB Tyrique Stevenson had a thumb injury.

Buccaneers: Bye week, and then a road game against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 22.

Bears: Bye week, and then a home game versus the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 22.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) passes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears place kicker Cairo Santos (8) kicks a game-winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) scores a two-point conversion against the Chicago Bears in the second half during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the second half during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond (14) runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears place kicker Cairo Santos (8) celebrates with teammates after kicking a game-winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)