Chicago Bears Beat New England Patriots 30-24 as Caleb Williams Throws for 308 Yards
The Chicago Bears beat the New England Patriots 30-24 at Soldier Field on Thursday night to open Week 7, as Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns in a prime-time duel with Drake Maye that lived up to its billing.
A heavyweight quarterback duel
Williams finished 22-of-33 for 308 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, posting a 116.7 passer rating. Maye was every bit as sharp for New England, completing 24 of 31 passes for 321 yards and two scores with one interception, and adding a rushing touchdown. Rookie receiver Luther Burden III was Williams' most explosive target, turning just four catches into 130 yards and a touchdown, while Rhamondre Stevenson led New England with five catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Chicago led 10-0 after the first quarter and 20-14 at halftime, but New England kept answering, and the game was still in the balance deep into the fourth quarter.
Santos seals it from 58 yards
The decisive moment came from the kicking game. After Cairo Santos had earlier seen a 53-yard attempt bounce off the upright, head coach Ben Johnson trusted him again in the closing minutes — and Santos drilled a career-long 58-yard field goal to stretch Chicago's lead to 30-21 with about 90 seconds left. New England responded with a late field goal of its own to make it a one-score game, but the Bears recovered the onside kick to close out the win. Chicago's pass rush also produced a key late sack of Maye after a sack of Williams had set up the long Santos attempt.
What it means for both teams
The win lifts Chicago to 5-2 and keeps the Bears firmly in the NFC playoff picture in the first of three consecutive prime-time games. It came on an emotional night at Soldier Field — the Bears' first home game since the death of coaching legend Mike Ditka, who was honoured before kickoff. New England falls to 4-3 despite Maye's performance, and the Patriots will rue a missed chance to steal a road win in a game where their quarterback matched Williams throw for throw. Tight end Cole Kmet was injured on a reception during the game, a concern Chicago will monitor this week.
Soldier Field, Chicago. Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, USA TODAY, Peoria Journal Star, Bears Wire.
