Last night, the New England Patriots fought to the last snap, but couldn’t make enough plays to beat the Chicago Bears.
Across the board, the Bears outperformed the Patriots with decisive advantages in total yards, total plays, rushing yards, and time of possession. This was especially apparent in the second half as quarterback Caleb Williams led three 9+ play drives to close out the game.
Today on Zolak and Bertrand, Scott Zolak, who also does commentary for New England’s games, spoke on how Chicago’s depth of skill players ultimately was too much for New England to handle.
“Biggest thing I take away from this: they’re more talented than you. Their whole skill set is more talented than you,” said Zolak.
Zolak later went on to spotlight three of the Bears’ playmakers specifically: Caleb Williams and a pair of wide receivers in Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III.
“I think the quarterbacks are very similar now. Caleb made two huge throws on third and long. Backed up in his own end zone. That was the ball game. The third and 11, the third and nine. Can’t let him convert that.”
“Rome Odunze doesn’t do anything the whole game. And there he is for those two big catches.”
“Luther Burden. You don’t have anything like him,” said Zolak.
“That dude, that dude’s explosive. Like you could see it in real time. Like when you’re there, like I know you guys are watching on TV, but like it’s different.”
Chicago Bears Big-Time Playmakers
For the Bears, it all starts with the man under center, Williams, who, in his second game back from a hamstring injury, tore apart New England’s secondary for 308 yards and two touchdowns.
His favorite target on the night was Luther Burden III, who only had four catches but turned them into 130 yards and a touchdown all in the first half.
In the second half, Williams spread the ball out to Rome Odunze, who finished the game with four catches for 69 yards, and tight end Colston Loveland for seven receptions, 69 yards, and a touchdown.
Chicago also got the ground game going as running back D’Andre Swift finished the game with 78 yards and a touchdown of his own.
How Does New England Bounce Back?
New England does not have a healthy team, but even with the likes of Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins, the team’s weapons do not compare in age or skill to the Bears’ young and dynamic skill-position players.
And with both receivers on IR, it wouldn’t hurt to acquire another young, talented receiver to pair with quarterback Drake Maye before the upcoming Trade Deadline.
New England is leaps and bounds better than the four-win team it was just two seasons ago, but as evidenced by last night, they got the hardest piece out of the way in the franchise quarterback. They now need to surround him with the right pieces to grow alongside him.
