Initial observations from Week 10 at Soldier Field.
The No. 1 overall pick and the No. 3 overall pick crossed paths at Soldier Field.
The win went to the visiting rookie on Sunday, as the New England Patriots brought down the Chicago Bears by a score of 19-3 in a game that went beyond the quarterbacks.
Here’s a glance back on what transpired as head coach Jerod Mayo’s side moves further into November at 3-7.
Maye works past early interception
A week removed from gaining 206 yards by air and 95 yards by ground, New England’s offense continued to go where Drake Maye did. Only the rookie quarterback didn’t have to do it all on a Sunday that saw him go 15-of-25 passing for 184 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Breaking the huddle in “12” personnel, the opening drive included a bad snap and a coverage sack before resulting in a three-and-out. Next time out, Maye found 28 yards to tight end Austin Hooper, who finished with a team-high 64 yards, on the game’s first connection. The visitors soon got on the board to make it 3-0. Yet the turnover rate climbed on the third series with an interception to an underneath defender. Linebacker T.J. Edwards, hiding in plain sight on a rollout to the flat, was the recipient of the forced throw.
Before the midway point in the matinee, however, the Patriots responded with a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown push. It wouldn’t be the last chance with the ball before intermission, either. With 35 seconds of situational football to tick, a drive that began 60 yards from the end zone ended through the uprights for a 13-3 lead that extended to 19-3 after an idle third quarter.
Polk finds end zone for wideout room prioritizing youth over experience
Seven wide receivers continue to reside on the active roster with the NFL trade deadline in the rearview. Six would be in uniform on Sunday. Tyquan Thornton became the lone healthy scratch 90 minutes prior to kickoff. But by 1 p.m. ET, Kendrick Bourne had become only an emergency option in favor of fellow veteran K.J. Osborn.
And in favor of developing the youth. Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk sold his block and slipped out to catch his second career touchdown in the second quarter, making it a 10-3 advantage. The No. 37 overall pick out of Washington got back in the starting lineup. He did so alongside Kayshon Boutte, who found 23 yards before the ball was clocked with a single second left in the first half and finished with 47 yards.
Leading the wideout corps was another selection from the sixth round of the 2023 class. DeMario Douglas’ outing began with a drop over the middle and went on to span 50 yards on four catches, including an elusive gain of 17.
Offensive line sides with continuity
The eighth combination in nine games had reached its end by intermission versus the Tennessee Titans. And on Sunday, the starting offensive line would instead be the one that finished last weekend.
There stood Vederian Lowe at left tackle, Michael Jordan at left guard, Ben Brown at center, Mike Onwenu at right guard and Demontrey Jacobs at right tackle.
The configuration went with continuity over thrusting the likes of rookie Layden Robinson, sophomore Sidy Sow or recent 53-man signing Tyrese Robinson into the middle of things. It led to one sack for no loss from Chicago defensive end Jacob Martin. There were only four scrambles from the North Carolina product under center. Those scrambles went for 24 yards.
Picking up the backfield
Maye had been the leading rusher for the Patriots in three of his starts. And the rookie’s previous saw the running back position forge just 15 yards out of 12 handoffs.
“It starts up front,” New England’s head coach said of the disparity. It did on Sunday.
Starter Rhamondre Stevenson ran for 74 yards across 20 carries against the Bears, including a long of 11. A fourth-and-1 pickup arrived amid a fall that’s brought a career high in touchdowns. Behind him, it would be change-of-pace back JaMycal Hasty rushing for 20 yards through six carries. Antonio Gibson suddenly found himself the last man in the rotation, but with fresh legs. The March signing got his five carries for 26 yards all in the final quarter.
All-hands-on-deck Patriots sack Williams nine times
The Patriots were prepared for a Harry Houdini act. The rookie at quarterback for the Bears could not escape as back-to-back-back drives ended with punts. And while back-to-back-to-back-to-back first downs followed, not much else did. Caleb Williams finished Sunday 16-of-30 passing for 120 yards with no touchdowns nor turnovers as his offense moved the chains on a single third down.
Nine sacks, including a pair apiece from starting edges Deatrich Wise Jr. and Anfernee Jennings, were logged by a defense that entered the matchup with just 15 on the year. Additional takedowns on the Heisman Trophy winner came courtesy of defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr., defensive end Keion White, linebacker Jahlani Tavai, undrafted safety Dell Pettus and spying core special-teamer Brenden Schooler.
The starting secondary included Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones at cornerback while Jonathan Jones joined Jaylinn Hawkins at safety. Chicago’s wide receivers finished the afternoon with 14 catches on 19 targets. Recent contract extendee D.J. Moore accounted for 24 yards. No. 9 overall pick Rome Odunze accounted for 23 yards. And longtime Pro Bowler Keenan Allen accounted for 44 yards.
Ground control returns after seven consecutive century marks
Opposing rushing attacks had eclipsed 100 yards on the ground in seven consecutive weeks. A net of 73 was accrued on Sunday.
Between the sacking bookends, New England started Davon Godchaux and Daniel Ekuale on the front line’s interior. And after waiving Raekwon McMillan, ruling out Christian Elliss and elevating Joe Giles-Harris, the off-ball starters included the likes of Sione Takitaki and undrafted August acquisition Curtis Jacobs.
Bears running back D’Andre Swift went on to turn 16 carries into 59 yards behind a shorthanded offensive line. He carved through an unset edge before blown-up blocks saw defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy pounce on a tackle for loss. The aforementioned Pharms also halted the starter behind the line during a career day. The Wichita Force and Pittsburgh Maulers alum did the same against backup back Roschon Johnson.
Slye accounts for 13 points on special teams
Former Patriot DeAndre Carter got Sunday underway with a punt return of 38 yards. There would be more to see on special teams from there, including a punt return of 24 against the Bears.
There would also be Joey Slye. The kicker converted his lone extra point and finished 4-of-4 field goals for a total of 13 points. He made good from 30 yards away in the first quarter, 37 yards away in the second quarter, as well as from 25 yards away and 33 yards away in the fourth quarter.
As for holder Bryce Baringer, who endured a shank of 25 yards the previous game, New England’s punter returned to launch a handful for 285 yards. A long of 75 was among them following a re-kick that stemmed from an illegal formation. He had one inside-the-20 effort and two touchbacks.