Bears' Cairo Santos trolls Vikings fans after epic game-winning field goal
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson had a 5-word message for the Bears after their incredible Week 9 win over the Bengals: don't apologize for a win. Two weeks later, it would seem that kicker Cairo Santos took this message to heart.
After the Bears' astonishing 19-17 win over the Vikings in Week 11, Cairo Santos was awarded a game ball from head coach Ben Johnson in the locker room and Santos accepted it by performing the Griddy dance, made famous by Minnesota's own Justin Jefferson, and mocking the Vikings' Skol chant. Check it out in the video below.
No one on the team deserved this celebration more than Santos, who was four-of-five on field goals on Sunday, including a 54-yarder and the game-winning boot as time expired. Without his performance, the Bears likely get humiliated once again at the hands of a division rival and slide back down the standings.
Earlier in the season, there was talk of the Bears potentially replacing Santos with Jake Moody, the hero of Week 6 who lifted the Bears to victory over the Washington Commanders. In the five weeks since then, I think it's safe to say that Santos has put any such kicker controversy to bed.
The Bears are winning, and they and their fans deserve to celebrate
As Johnson told his team, don't apologize for a win in this league. Wins are hard to come by in the NFL, the ultimate week-to-week league. Look just a little further up north to Green Bay, who started the season as Super Bowl contenders, but this week narrowly avoided a three-game losing streak at the hands of the 2-8 New York Giants.
Before we get the results of Sunday night's Lions-Eagles game, the Bears are in sole possession of first place in the NFC North, a lofty position not occupied by the Bears in many years. And while there's still plenty of football left to play in 2025, Bears fans should take the rare opportunity to celebrate being atop a very tough NFC North division.
Bo Nix Delivers Blunt Take Amid Strong Comments From Broncos
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Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos looks on during warm-ups before facing the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bo Nix is the Denver Broncos’ quarterback, in both a literal and a figurative sense.
Nix threw for 295 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11. And while Nix failed to score any touchdowns, he completed 64.8% of his passes en route to the Broncos’ ninth win of the 2025 regular season.
However, Nix has faced plenty of barbs about his and the Broncos’ offense’s lack of consistency this season. His teammates, coaches, and even a franchise legend disagree.
Bo Nix: ‘If You’re Scared, Go to Church’
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos leaves the field after defeating the Dallas Cowboys.
Nix also said of the Chiefs that “they were at the top. And if you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.” He also said that in matchups such as this one, “some say, ‘If you’re scared, go to church.’”
Nix was then asked if playing like he did in the Broncos’ win was any more fulfilling after some of the commentary about him.
He reiterated that he blocks out any outside noise.
“People are always entitled to their opinion. They’re always going to say what they think, and that’s also what makes our country great. But at the end of the day, you just gotta block it out. You just can’t involve yourself with what’s outside the building,” Nix said during his postgame media availability on November 16.
“If you do, man, it’ll just bog you down, and it’ll get you distracted, and you’ll start worrying about things that you shouldn’t be worried about. But everybody’s always going to say something for some reason. We’re always going to be talked down upon, and that’s okay.”
Nix has now thrown for 2,421 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions on 61.2% completion this season.
Nix’s touchdown rate was identical to last season heading into this game.
He also led the NFL in sack rate, though he was sacked twice in Week 11. However, his interception rate is up, and his yards per game are down. Still, anyone questioning Nix as the Broncos’ QB of the present and future had best prepare to face the repercussions.
Bo Nix Gets Strong Words From Broncos Teammate
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos does an interview postgame after defeating the Houston Texans.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton has pushed back on comments he feels are trying to lead him somewhere he is not trying to go. Payton gave a blunt assessment of Nix’s performance against the Titans.
Payton said Nix was “outstanding” on the Broncos’ 2-minute drive to win.
“I think [Nix played] real well,” Nix told reporters on November 16. He won. That’s his job. He won, and against a pretty stingy defense that can give you problems.”
Broncos tight end Adam Trautman had a more aggressive message for anyone who denigrated Nix on social media. Nix has taken barbs from fans and former players alike, despite leading the Broncos to the best record in the NFL.
“First off, if you’re talking s*** about Bo online, you’re a coward. Absolute coward. But – I just want to say that, and guard him a little bit,” Trautman told reporters on November 16. “He blanks it out, and we talked about it this week. We don’t care what other people think. We know what we have in the building, and we know what he’s made of, and we don’t really care what people have to say. So, DragonSlayer69, with the 7-Eleven Slurpee in his mom’s basement, I don’t give a s*** what he has to say, right? And Bo doesn’t either.”
Broncos Super Bowl Champion Defends Bo Nix
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos reacts against the Houston Texans.
Nix already spoke about blocking out the negativity. He previously told reporters that he is not even on social media during the season, so he is barely aware of it.
It does not matter. He has others who see it and will handle it for him.
Broncos icon and Super Bowl champion Aqib Talib, of “No Fly Zone” fame, also weighed in, posting on X on November 16, “#BroncosCountry Stand Up!!! Stop playing wit Bo!!! Have that same energy on these sports shows tomorrow morning!!!”
