NFL | Week 7 preview

Patriots-Bears preview: three storylines to watch

Both teams enter Thursday’s prime-time game at 4-2, with Drake Maye and Caleb Williams set for another meeting.

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The New England Patriots and Chicago Bears are both 4-2 ahead of their Thursday Week 7 prime-time matchup at Soldier Field. The game has not been played.

The NFL identifies the quarterbacks’ rematch, A.J. Brown’s return to form and Chicago’s defensive performance as three central storylines.

Maye and Williams meet again

Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, the first and third picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, last faced each other in a 19-3 Patriots win in 2024, according to the NFL. The league’s preview says Maye led New England to the Super Bowl last season, while Williams helped Chicago claim its first NFC North title in seven years.

Maye enters the game after a strong three-week stretch: he has thrown 10 touchdown passes and one interception in that span. Williams returned from a hamstring injury last week against Atlanta, completing 83.3% of his passes for 305 yards and a touchdown, the NFL reports.

Brown looks to rebound

A.J. Brown, New England’s major offseason addition, returned against the Jets last Sunday after missing time since Week 1. He caught three passes for 27 yards on 10 targets. The NFL preview notes that he had drops in that game and that Romeo Doubs, the Patriots’ leading receiver, is out with a shoulder injury.

Chicago’s defense faces a test

The NFL says the Bears rank among the league’s top seven teams in points and yards allowed, but also notes that they concede 6.0 yards per play, the second-highest figure in the league. New England’s defense is among the top six in points and yards allowed, setting up a significant test for both offenses.

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The Patriots arrive on a three-game winning streak, while Chicago has an opportunity to improve to 5-2. Those possibilities remain unresolved until Thursday’s game is played.

Byline

Nikos Papadopoulos

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