EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO -- There were times Thursday night when the Chicago Bears' lead over the New England Patriots looked in serious jeopardy, but each time quarterback Caleb Williams found a way to rescue his team on a night Bears fans remembered Mike Ditka.The last one was a 21-yard pass to Rome Odunze on a third-and-9 from the Bears' 10-yard line with 4:59 left. It extended the drive, and Cairo Santos made it pay off with the longest field goal of his career, and the third-longest in the history of Soldier Field, from 58 yards out to secure a 30-24 victory.Williams put up his second straight 300-yard passing game, finishing 22 of 33 for 308 yards with two touchdowns.Luther Burden III caught all four targets and finished with 130 receiving yards and a touchdown.The Patriots snapped a three-game win streak.Chicago Bears (5-2)What to make of the QB performance: Williams became the first Bears player with consecutive 300-passing yard games since Mitchell Trubisky had three straight in 2018 from weeks 4-7. He's also first Bears QB with 300 passing yards and 0 interceptions in consecutive games since Brian Hoyer went four straight in 2016.Stat to know: Burden has solidified himself as the No. 1 receiver in the Bears offense. Every catch Burden had in the first half led to points, including his 24-yard touchdown before halftime. The self-proclaimed "problem child" caused issues for the Patriots defense all game. He's the first player this season with multiple 25-yard receptions in the first quarter alone and put together the third 100-yard receiving game of his career. He does the most with the "runner's ball" that Williams emphasizes. He has 250 yards after the catch which is the second-most this season by a wide receiver. Drake London has 255.Trend to watch: The Bears defense has multiple sacks (2 vs. Drake Maye) in all seven games this season. Three other teams have sacks in the first six. It's the third-longest streak for the Bears to start a season in the last 50 seasons.Most surprising performance: Chicago stuck with its blitz-heavy approach coming off its highest blitz rate of the season in Atlanta (56.4%), but while it worked against the Falcons, it led to two of the biggest plays of the day for the Patriots. The Bears squandered the 13-point lead they built before halftime when they rushed six on the last play of the second quarter and Maye hit Rhamondre Stevenson for a 48-yard touchdown. The other longest pass play allowed -- Eli Raridon's 30-yard touchdown -- came when Chicago rushed six. -- Courtney CroninNext game: at Seattle Seahawks (Monday, Nov. 2, ESPN)New England Patriots (4-3)Maye had one hiccup on an otherwise impressive night, helping keep the Patriots in a game they never led.He finished 24 of 31 for 321 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, while adding four rushes for 26 yards and a touchdown. The rushing touchdown came on a play in which he scrambled, took a big hit, and reached the ball out toward the goal-line as officials initially ruled him short before it was overturned on replay.The pick, which was the only turnover of the game and came in the second quarter when the offense was driving, highlights an area the Patriots have yet to be able to clean up this season. They have 14 giveaways, and a minus-7 turnover differential.Coach Mike Vrabel had expressed his frustration in the days leading up to the game, saying, "We turn the ball over at a historic rate, and it's ridiculous. It's an embarrassment."Most surprising performance: On first-and-10 from the Bears' 48-yard line with three seconds remaining in the second quarter, running back Stevenson was on the receiving end of a lobbed pass from Maye at the 45-yard line before accelerating and then cutting inside en route to the end zone. The Bears were expecting a Hail Mary. It was the longest offensive TD to end a half since Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels' 52-yard Hail Mary to Noah Brown in 2024 (also against the Bears).Stat to know: Maye's late second-quarter interception, in which he threw an inaccurate pass to TE Eli Raridon up the right seam on first-and-10 from the Bears 15-yard line, was his third on a pass thrown to the end zone this season. Maye is the only quarterback in the NFL with multiple such interceptions.Trend to watch: Big plays surrendered on defense. On third-and-17 late in the second quarter, the Bears scored on a quick pass to Burden, who raced 24 yards into the end zone. The Patriots also gave up pass plays of 26, 58, 22, 22 and three 21-yarders. -- Mike ReissNext game: at Miami Dolphins (Sunday, Nov. 1, CBS)
