CHICAGO — In a highly anticipated face-off between two emerging quarterbacks, Drake Maye outperformed Caleb Williams as the New England Patriots defeated the struggling Chicago Bears 19-3 on Sunday.
Maye orchestrated five scoring drives, and the Patriots’ defense put immense pressure on Williams, sacking him a season-high nine times, helping New England improve their record to 3-7 after a streak where they lost seven of eight matches.
The challenges continued for the Bears, now at 4-5, who have faced a tough series of losses, including a heartbreaking defeat against Washington due to a last-minute Hail Mary, followed by a disappointing performance against Arizona last week.
The Bears’ offense struggled significantly, gaining just 142 yards and managing a mere 1 for 14 on third downs against a Patriots team that was grappling with one of the worst records in the league. Frustration became evident in the stands as fans chanted for head coach Matt Eberflus to be let go during the waning moments of the game.
In his outing, Maye, the No. 3 overall draft pick, completed 15 of 25 passes, accumulating 184 yards alongside one touchdown and one interception. Meanwhile, Williams, the top pick and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California, faced continued adversity, finishing 16 of 30 with just 120 yards, contributing to the end of the Bears’ eight-game winning streak at Soldier Field.
Looking ahead, the Bears face a tough schedule, with six of their final eight games against NFC North rivals, beginning next week against the Green Bay Packers.
Defensively, New England saw standout performances from Anfernee Jennings and Deatrich Wise, each securing two sacks. Kicker Joey Slye was also instrumental, successfully converting four field goals.
By halftime, the Patriots had established a 13-3 lead, scoring 10 points within the final two minutes of the second quarter. Maye connected for a touchdown with rookie Ja’Lynn Polk on a 2-yard pass, followed by Slye’s 37-yard field goal as time ran out, sealing a substantial lead. Fans expressed their discontent with the Bears’ performance, as the team managed only 87 yards and failed to convert on all six of their third-down attempts in the first half.
Chicago had several promising opportunities early on but failed to capitalize effectively. Their opening drive resulted in a quick three-and-out after DeAndre Carter returned a punt to the Patriots’ 47-yard line. Following Slye’s 30-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead, the Bears managed a drive to the New England 31 but were pushed back out of field-goal range, due to an 8-yard sack on Williams by Wise.
The Bears did manage to tie the game midway through the second quarter with a field goal from Cairo Santos, although they were forced to settle after stalling at the 14-yard line. The Patriots’ subsequent 70-yard drive concluded with Maye’s touchdown pass to Polk, putting New England ahead 10-3 shortly before the half. A final drive allowed Slye to add another 37-yard field goal as the clock hit zero.
Things were so bleak for Chicago that they received sarcastic cheers from their fans following a modest 7-yard reception by tight end Cole Kmet, who had been largely absent from previous games.
Injury updates revealed that Patriots defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy and cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr. both sustained injuries during the game, while Bears left guard Teven Jenkins left early due to an ankle issue.
Looking forward, the Patriots will host the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday, whereas the Bears will also be at home, facing off against rival Green Bay.