Bears vs. Patriots: What to Watch For
When the Bears Have the Ball
The Bears’ hopes of rediscovering their pre-bye offensive groove (36 points against the Panthers, 35 against the Jaguars) will be complicated by the absence of both starting offensive tackles.
Right tackle Darnell Wright (knee) will miss his first game after making 25 consecutive starts since the Bears drafted him 10th overall last year. And left tackle Braxton Jones (knee) will miss his second consecutive game.
Coach Matt Eberflus would not divulge the starting lineup, but the injuries could lead to this alignment: Larry Borom for Jones at left tackle, guard Matt Pryor for Wright at right tackle, and Ryan Bates — who is expected to be activated off injured reserve — for Pryor at right guard.
A makeshift offensive-line combination might be workable against a Patriots defense that ranks 21st in points allowed, 26th in rushing, and 28th in sacks per pass play, and is tied for 25th in yards. Then again, the Bears’ offense produced only three field goals against a Cardinals defense that ranks 19th in points and is tied for 25th in yards, so you never know.
With rookie quarterback Caleb Williams struggling — completing 49.2% of his passes with a 65.4 passer rating in losses to the Commanders and Cardinals — the Bears are likely to focus on establishing a running game to get Williams in more advantageous down-and-distance situations. The Patriots have allowed 159.4 rushing yards per game (4.7 yards per carry) since Week 3. They’re last in the NFL in that span.
When the Patriots Have the Ball
The Bears’ defense will be focused on atoning for a rare poor performance last week, when it allowed 27 of the Cardinals’ 29 points, breaking a streak of 13 consecutive games in which the Bears had allowed 21 points or fewer.
It all starts with their run defense, which ranks 14th in the NFL after leading the league in that department last season. The Bears allowed a season-high 213 rushing yards against the Cardinals last week after allowing a season-high 168 rushing yards against the Commanders.
The Bears will be without safety Jaquan Brisker, who will miss his fourth consecutive game with a concussion, and defensive tackle Andrew Billings — their top run-stopper — who suffered a season-ending torn pectoral muscle last week. But defensive end Montez Sweat and slot cornerback Kyler Gordon are expected to return.
The Patriots are 24th in rushing (14th in yards per carry). Leading rusher Rhamondre Stevenson (114 carries, 438 yards, 3.8 average) is averaging only 2.2 yards per carry in his last three games (37-82) but has scored three of his six touchdowns.
The bigger threat might be rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who has 21 carries for 209 yards (10.0 average) and a touchdown, including eight carries for 95 yards in an overtime loss to the Titans last week.
Maye has an 87.1 passer rating in four starts with six touchdown passes and four interceptions. The Bears are third in the NFL in passer rating allowed (77.2).
Conclusion
The Bears will be looking to get their offense back on track, while the Patriots will be looking to exploit the Bears’ injuries on the offensive line. The game will be a tough matchup for both teams, with the Bears’ defense trying to shut down the Patriots’ rushing attack and the Patriots’ offense trying to take advantage of the Bears’ injured tackles.
FAQs
* What is the current ranking of the Bears’ offense in terms of points scored per game?
+ The Bears are currently ranked 22nd in the NFL in terms of points scored per game.
* What is the current ranking of the Patriots’ defense in terms of points allowed per game?
+ The Patriots are currently ranked 21st in the NFL in terms of points allowed per game.
* Will Jaquan Brisker play in the game against the Patriots?
+ No, Jaquan Brisker will miss his fourth consecutive game with a concussion.
