The Patriots were pursuing a fourth-quarter comeback against the Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday night, with New England trying to protect a three-game winning streak in a prime-time matchup between quarterbacks Drake Maye and Caleb Williams.
Rhamondre Stevenson delivered a 48-yard touchdown on the first half’s final play, according to MassLive. But the Patriots still faced a comeback effort after halftime, as reflected in live reports from both MassLive and NBC Boston. The supplied updates did not include a final score.
Chicago also received a career-long field goal from Cairo Santos. Boston.com reported that the kick left New England trailing by nine points at that stage of the game. Its update did not specify the kick’s distance, and that margin was not identified as the final result.
The teams brought matching 4-2 records into the Thursday meeting, which had an 8:15 p.m. Eastern kickoff scheduled. New England had won its previous three games, while Chicago had taken three of its past four, according to NBC Boston. The matchup gave the Patriots a chance to extend that run against an opponent that also arrived with recent success.
Maye and Williams share the spotlight
The quarterback pairing was a central storyline before kickoff. Maye and Williams were among the leading quarterbacks selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Thursday’s game put them opposite each other on a national prime-time stage. MassLive’s advance coverage also highlighted the short turnaround for New England.
In NBC Boston’s preview, Maye expressed admiration for Williams’ ability to maneuver in the pocket, avoid pressure and throw while moving. He also praised Williams’ arm talent, while suggesting that some of the Chicago quarterback’s movements would be difficult for him to replicate.
Another pregame question involved A.J. Brown. MassLive’s preview focused on whether Brown could follow an uneven return with a stronger performance against Chicago. The supplied game updates did not detail his production Thursday night.
Several Patriots unavailable
New England entered the game without offensive linemen Ben Brown and Alijah Vera-Tucker, NBC Boston reported. Cornerbacks Karon Prunty, Carlton Davis and Channing Canada also were listed as out. Those absences included players from both the offensive line and the defensive secondary; the supplied report did not explain the reasons for their unavailability.
Chicago’s unavailable players included running back Kyle Monangai and linebacker Jack Sanborn, according to NBC Boston. The listed absences were part of the pregame picture as both teams prepared for the Thursday matchup.
Stevenson’s long scoring play and Santos’ career-best kick stood out in the available scoring updates. By the fourth-quarter stage described by MassLive, however, the central question remained whether New England could complete a comeback and keep its winning streak intact. The reports provided no resolution to that effort.
