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The New England Patriots will be on the road for the second straight week when they travel to face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. It will be the Patriots first trip to Chicago since a 38-31 victory on Oct. 21, 2018 and the first time playing the Bears since a 33-14 loss on Monday Night Football on Oct. 24, 2022 at Gillette Stadium.

SERIES HISTORY

This week's game will mark the 16th meeting overall between the Patriots and Bears (including Super Bowl XX). Chicago snapped a five game losing streak to New England and earned their first-ever victory in Foxboro with a 33-14 win in a Monday Night Football game at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 24, 2022, in the last meeting between the two teams.

The Patriots hold a 10-4 overall lead in the regular season series, but Chicago claimed a victory in the teams' only postseason matchup, taking a 46-10 decision in Super Bowl XX. Since Super Bowl XX, the Patriots have recorded a 8-2 edge against Chicago.

One of the more memorable games between the two teams was in 2002, when the Bears played their home games at the University of Illinois during the remodeling of Soldier Field. New England staged one of the most memorable comebacks in team history, rallying from a 27-6 deficit late in the third quarter to pull out for a 33-30 win that was clinched on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to WR David Patten with 21 seconds left in the game.

SCOUTING THE MATCHUPS

By Paul Perillo

When the Patriots run - Edge: Bears

Chicago's defense has not been exceptionally good against the run this season, allowing 131.6 yards per game and almost 5 yards per carry. Those totals rank tied for 19^th and 28^th in the league, respectively. However, the Patriots ground game has fallen into a state of disrepair. New England's running backs combined for 15 yards on 12 carries in Tennessee on Sunday, led by Rhamondre Stevenson's 10-carry, 16-yard effort. The patchwork offensive line has been unable to open up any holes for the backs, a fact that was painfully obvious during a late first-half possession when the Patriots tried and failed to pick up a single yard on second and third down attempts. Aside from Drake Maye scrambles, which have been little more than the rookie running for his life, the ground production has been lacking since early September. So, even though Chicago's front seven, which includes defensive tackles Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings as well as linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, has struggled the Patriots don't figure to turn things around dramatically on Sunday. The Bears have been victimized by occasional big runs, like the 53-yard touchdown Arizona's Emari Demercado hit them with at the end of the half, which has skewed the totals a bit.

When the Patriots pass - Edge: Bears

Maye has been a revelation for the Patriots offense, but most of his playmaking and production has come with his legs. In terms of the strict passing game since Maye took over, the performance has been average. Despite attempting 41 passes against the Titans the Patriots threw for only 206 yards and needed a miracle scramble by Maye to score the tying touchdown as time expired. Other than Hunter Henry, who continues to be a consistently reliable option every week, the passing game is struggling to find options. DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne and Kayshon Boutte have shown flashes but not the consistency needed to get the passing attack to improve to another level. The pass protection also hasn't helped, as Maye was forced to scramble eight times in Nashville and was also sacked four times. Until that improves it's hard to imagine the Patriots passing game finding its gear, and Chicago won't make that easy. The Bears allow 191.3 passing yards per game, good for eighth in the league. However, Chicago could be without starters Jaquan Brisker (concussion) and Kyler Gordon (hamstring), both of whom sat out the loss in Arizona.

When the Bears run - Edge: Bears

The Patriots run defense continues to take on water, allowing the Tennessee Titans to pile up 167 yards on the ground with a healthy 4.3-yard average. That marked the fourth time in the last five games that New England allowed its opponent to rush for more than 160 yards. For the season the Patriots allow an average of 137 yards per game, which ranks 26^th in the league. Chicago hasn't been overly consistent running the ball, but the Bears do have the pieces to do so effectively. D'Andre Swift leads the team with 505 yards and four touchdowns while averaging an even 4 yards per carry. Roschon Johnson comes in on the goal line and has four touchdowns on just 35 carries on the season. Despite Swift's production, problems on the offensive line have limited Chicago's ground game as the Bears rank 23^rd in the league, averaging just 112.5 yards per game. The Patriots front seven has been unable to contain most rushing attacks this season despite Davon Godchaux’s steady play in the middle. A lack of depth on the defensive line, coupled with the losses of Ja'Whaun Bentley and safeties Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury, have prevented New England from holding up.

When the Bears pass - Edge: Patriots

Rookie Caleb Williams has been similar to many talented young quarterbacks this season – he's alternated some really impressive stretches of play with erratic throws and poor decision making. His pass protection hasn't helped as he's been sacked 29 times and like Maye is often forced to evade immediate pressure with his excellent mobility. For the season he has nine touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 61.4 percent of his passes. He does have an excellent group of receivers to choose from, led by D.J. Moore (37 catches, 374 yards, 3 TDs) and tight end Cole Kmet (27-303-3). Williams also has veteran Keenan Allen (21-197-2) and rookie Rome Odunze (25-391-1), giving him plenty of options in the passing game. When he has time, the Bears passing attack has the ability to be productive. But too often the protection breaks down and that's when Williams gets into trouble. Look for the Patriots to try to bring pressure at the rookie to help what has become a beleaguered secondary deal with the Bears numerous options.

Special Teams - Edge: Patriots

Marcus Jones is heating up and he dramatically altered the game for the second week in a row. He had punt returns of 44 and 25 yards in Tennessee, the latter of which allowed Maye and the offense to set up shop at midfield for the game-tying drive in the final two minutes. Jones' explosiveness has been on display as he easily makes would-be tacklers miss when in open space. That has been the saving grace for the Patriots special teams units, which otherwise have been wildly inconsistent. Bryce Baringer has been solid for most of the season but has some ill-timed shanks late in first halves that have hurt the team. The latest was a 15-yard punt that allowed the Titans to start a last-second drive near midfield. Joey Slye also pushed a 56-yard field goal to the right in Nashville, which also gave Tennessee excellent field position. The coverage on both kicks and punts was excellent against the Titans after a sloppy effort against the Jets a week earlier. Chicago has kicker Cairo Santos, who is 11 of 13 on field goals on the season, and punter Tory Taylor, who is excellent pinning opponents inside their 20, which he's done 16 times. DeAndre Carter handles kicks and punts and can be dangerous, particularly on kicks.

TALE OF THE TAPE

CONNECTIONS

FORMER PATRIOTS

• DL Byron Cowart, 2019-22
• OL Bill Murray, 2020-23
• DL Sam Roberts, 2022-23
• DB Ameer Speed, 2023
• Off. Coord. Shane Waldron, 2002-04 (Operations), 2008 (Offensive Quality Control), 2009 (Tight Ends Coach)

FORMER BEARS

• Off. Asst. Omar Young, 2022-23

PATRIOTS TO WATCH

• QB Drake Maye followed a 46-yard rushing performance vs. the N.Y. Jets (10/27) with 95 yards rushing last week at Tennessee. His 141 yards rushing in two-straight games is the best in team history by a quarterback, besting the 132 yards rushing by QB Steve Grogan in 1976 when he had 103 yards rushing vs. the New York Jets (10/18) followed by 29 yards rushing at Buffalo (10/24).
• Maye would be the first Patriots quarterback to have three straight games with at least 40 yards rushing if he goes over 40 yards rushing this week at Chicago. Maye joined Grogan and QB Cam Newton last week as the only two Patriots quarterbacks with two-straight games with 40 yards rushing. Grogan had 65 yards rushing in back-to-back games vs. Baltimore (9/18/78) and at Oakland (9/24/78). Newton had 75 yards rushing vs. Miami (9/13/20) and 47 yards rushing at Seattle (9/20/20).

• TE Hunter Henry enters this week's game against Chicago with a team-leading 39 receptions for 414 yards. He is on pace to finish the season with 74 receptions for 782 yards, which would be single-season career highs. While with the Chargers, he had a season-high of 60 receptions (2020) and 652 receiving yards (2019). Henry is fourth in receptions among tight ends in 2024 and fifth in receiving yards.
• Henry has two games with 8 receptions in 2024 – vs. Seattle (9/15) and at Jacksonville (10/20). If he records 8 or more receptions against Chicago, he will be the first New England tight end since TE Rob Gronkowski in 2017 with at least three 8-plus reception games.

• RB Rhamondre Stevenson has scored 2 touchdowns in each of the last two games with 2 rushing touchdowns vs. the New York Jets (10/27) and a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown last week at Tennessee (11/3). If he scores 2 touchdowns this week at Chicago, he will be the first Patriots player with at least 2 touchdowns in three-straight weeks since WR Randy Moss had a streak of three-straight games with 2 receiving touchdowns in 2007 – vs. San Diego (9/16), vs. Buffalo (9/23) and at Cincinnati (10/1).
• Stevenson has a career-high 6 rushing touchdowns in 2024 and has a rushing touchdown in each of the last two games with 2 rushing touchdowns vs. the New York Jets (10/27) and 1 rushing touchdown at Tennessee (11/3). If he scores a rushing touchdown this week at Chicago, he will be the first Patriots player with a rushing touchdown in three-straight games since RB Damien Harris scored a rushing touchdown in three straight games in 2022 – at Pittsburgh (9/18), vs. Baltimore (9/18) and at Green Bay (10/2).

• CB Marcus Jones is second in the NFL and first in the AFC with a 15.6-yard punt return average (17 returns for 266 yards). The last Patriots player to lead the NFL in punt return average was Gunner Olszewski in 2020 with a team-record 17.3-yard average.
• Jones had a 62-yard punt return in the third quarter vs. the N.Y. Jets (10/27) to help get the Patriots in position for a touchdown. It was his second-career punt return of over 60 yards. He had a career-best 84-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. the Jets on Nov. 20, 2022. If he registers a punt return of at least 60 yards this week at Chicago, he will tie Troy Brown with three-career punt returns of over 60 yards as a Patriot, behind only the four by WR Julian Edelman (since 1980).
• In addition, if Jones registers a 60-yard punt return this week at Chicago, he will be just the fourth Patriots player with two punt returns of at least 60 yards in the same season and the first since 2020 when WR Gunner Olszewski had two 60-yard punt returns: a 61-yard return and a 70-yard touchdown run at the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 6, 2020. The other Patriots to accomplish the feat in a single season were Troy Brown (2001) and Irving Fryar (1985).

LB Christian Elliss has a team-leading 8 total special teams tackles. If he reaches 10 total special teams tackles this week, it will be the seventh-straight season that the Patriots have had a player reach at least 10 special teams tackles. In 2023, S Brenden Schooler (13) and LB Chris Board (10) both reached 10 special teams tackles.

BROADCAST INFO

TELEVISION: This week's game will be broadcast by FOX and can be seen locally on WFXT-TV Channel 25. Kevin Kugler will handle play-by-play duties with Daryl Johnston as the color analyst. Laura Okmin will work from the sidelines. The game will be produced by Eric Billigmeier and directed by Greg Scoppettone.

LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. A complete listing of the network's 33 stations can be found here. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. The games are produced by Marc Cappello.

For information on how to stream the game please visit our Ways to Watch guide.