On a night when Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and wide receiver Luther Burden III had 130 receiving yards, New England’s biggest enemy was its self-inflicted mistakes.
Drake Maye’s Interception and the Game-Deciding Ten-Point Swing
While Drake Maye had only one bad play, that mistake ultimately made the difference on Thursday night.
In the second quarter, after the Bears went up 13-7, New England’s offense was marching down the field with ease. Wide receiver Efton Chism caught a 16-yard reception, tight end Eli Raridon caught an 11-yard reception, and Drake Maye ran for a 15-yard gain, giving New England the ball in the red zone. But the drive stalled as Maye got flashbacks to the Seahawks game and threw another interception in the end zone.
To make matters worse, the Bears on their ensuing possession took the ball down the field for a ten-play drive that ended in a 24-yard touchdown pass to Luther Burden III.
Defense’s Inability to Get Off the Field
In the second half, the Bears controlled the game thanks to their ability to sustain long drives.
The Bears had three drives of 9+ plays in the second half, and New England’s defense couldn’t do anything to stop them. Even though these drives only resulted in ten points, they shortened the game for the Bears, who led all evening and gave New England’s offense less time with the football.
Pre-Snap Flags and Defensive Breakdowns
- Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones playing off coverage on Bears tight end Colston Loveland sets up a pitch-and-catch touchdown for Caleb Williams that puts the Bears up 27-14 in the third quarter.
- A crucial 4th-quarter false start penalty backs up New England’s offense from a 4th-and-2 to a 4th-and-7, forcing a punt.
- The Patriots once again lost the turnover battle, extending an alarming season-long streak to seven consecutive games without winning the turnover margin.
In a game between two elite offenses, whichever team was more disciplined and made fewer mistakes was going to win the game. Ultimately, New England had too many miscues on offense and defense, allowing the Bears to escape with a 30-24 victory.
