The New England Patriots put on a stellar defensive performance and secured a commanding 19-3 victory over the Chicago Bears.
The Patriots’ defense dominated, sacking Chicago’s quarterback nine times—a mark that ties for the second-most sacks in a single game in franchise history. On top of that, they held the Bears to just three points and minimal yardage, showcasing a lockdown defensive effort that set the tone for the game.
Things are looking good for the Patriots, but they need to find a way to build off of these performances. The team found its identity on the defensive side of the ball against the Bears. It was the kind of performance we expected to see more out of from the team after keeping the same core concepts and players from the Bill Belichick era. Perhaps this latest performance was the start of that being the case.
Here are five players worthy of game balls after Sunday’s win: