New England Patriots (2-7) will face the Chicago Bears (4-4) this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST on FOX.
The current odds from BetMGM show that the Bears are favored to win by 6.5 points.
In terms of performance against the spread, the Patriots hold a record of 3-5-1, while the Bears are at 4-3-1.
Historically, the Patriots have the upper hand in this matchup, leading the series 10-5.
The two teams last met on October 24, 2022, when the Bears emerged victoriously with a 33-14 win in Foxborough.

In their recent games, the Patriots suffered a narrow loss to Tennessee, ending 20-17 in overtime, whereas the Bears were defeated 29-9 at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals.
When analyzing team statistics, the Patriots’ offense ranks poorly overall, coming in at 32nd place, with the rushing game at 24th, passing at 32nd, and scoring at 30th.
Defensively, the Patriots are positioned at 25th for total defense, 26th against the run, and 22nd against the pass, while scoring defense ranks them 21st.
Comparatively, the Bears’ offensive statistics place them at 28th overall, with a ranking of 23rd for rushing, 29th for passing, and 19th in scoring.
On the other hand, the Bears showcase a stronger defensive unit, coming in 12th overall, with rush defense at 20th, a commendable 8th against the pass, and 5th for scoring defense.
In terms of turnovers, the Patriots have a loss differential at minus-3, while the Bears have a positive differential at plus-7.

For the Patriots, quarterback Drake Maye will be a key player to monitor.
Drafted third overall in this year’s draft, Maye made an impression with his performance last week, throwing for 206 yards, including a remarkable touchdown that forced overtime, despite also throwing two interceptions.
On the Bears’ side, Caleb Williams, the number one overall draft pick, is another player to keep an eye on.
Though he started strong earlier in the season, his recent performances have dipped, with a passer rating of 65.4 and a 49.2% completion rate over the last two games, following a stretch where he threw nine touchdowns with just three interceptions.

A pivotal matchup to watch will be the face-off between Williams and Maye.
This will be the second time in three games that Williams encounters another top quarterback from this year’s draft class, as he previously faced Jayden Daniels, who led Washington to victory with a last-second Hail Mary two weeks ago.
Both quarterbacks have faced challenges adjusting to the NFL, eliciting significant interest in how well they will perform against each other.

Injury reports indicate that the Patriots will likely be without safety Marte Mapu and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy, both with neck injuries sustained against Tennessee.
The Bears face their own injury problems, as defensive tackle Andrew Billings will have surgery for a torn pectoral muscle, and safety Jaquan Brisker is expected to miss his fourth consecutive game due to a concussion.
Cornerback Kyler Gordon has also been sidelined due to a hamstring injury, while several other players including defensive end Montez Sweat and left tackle Braxton Jones also missed last week’s game.

Regarding historical context, the Bears had a rough patch against the Patriots, losing five straight and eight out of nine meetings after their Super Bowl XX win, up until their victory in Week 7 two years ago.
Despite that win, the Bears ended that season with a dismal record of 3-14 under general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus, marking a significant rebuilding phase for the franchise.

In terms of statistics, the Patriots are among six teams tied for the worst record in the NFL at 2-7.
Despite Maye’s impressive rushing performance last week, totaling 95 yards, the team collectively managed only 15 yards on 12 carries, highlighting struggles in their rushing game.
On the other hand, the Bears have secured victories against teams with a combined record of 10-24, showcasing that their wins have come against less competitive squads.
At home, the Bears are performing well with a perfect 4-0 record, including a win in London.
They are recognized for their defensive prowess, ranking tied for fourth in the NFL with 15 takeaways and having broken a record for rushing yards allowed last week.
Specific standout performances include rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze, who has caught five passes for over 100 yards in two different games this season.

For fantasy players, Caleb Williams could be in line for a resurgence against the Patriots’ shaky defense.
The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner boasts an undefeated record at Soldier Field, with three touchdowns and an impressive QB rating while also having delivered strong passing performances in previous games at home.