Chicago Bears Hold Off New England Patriots: 4 Key Takeaways from the Caleb Williams vs. Drake Maye Battle

The era of “Cardiac Caleb” may have temporarily come to an end, but the Chicago Bears’ quarterback continues to find ways to secure victories.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams now faces a new, challenging responsibility: protecting leads. This task proved particularly daunting on Thursday night, as the Bears’ defense struggled significantly during their narrow 30-24 victory over the New England Patriots at Soldier Field.

Overall, Williams delivered a stellar performance—aside from a critical late-game sack. He completed 22 of his 33 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns, showcasing his elite capability against a reputable Patriots defense anchored by standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

There is no doubt that Williams is an elite quarterback. Yet, he continues to demonstrate that he and head coach Ben Johnson can secure victories through diverse strategies. The Bears look genuinely dangerous, and fears of a regression in Chicago appear highly unfounded.

Below are the primary takeaways from this thrilling contest:

1.

Ben Johnson’s Bold Aggressiveness Ultimately Pays Off For The Bears

It was evident that head coach Ben Johnson had no intention of allowing Drake Maye to gain possession of the ball during a close, one-score matchup. 

Johnson executed a strategy designed to exhaust the clock and secure points on what became Chicago’s decisive final drive. On third-and-long, the play-calling pushed the boundaries, prompting Williams to attempt deep passes that carried risk. A prime example was his spectacular, yet hazardous, third-and-9 throw to receiver Rome Odunze with just five minutes remaining on the clock.

Unsurprisingly, this aggressive approach nearly resulted in lost points for the team.

With 1:46 remaining on third-and-5, Chicago could have logically handed off the ball, forced New England to use a timeout, and attempted a manageable field goal. Instead, prioritizing a first down, Johnson called a shotgun dropback that led to a quarterback sack, pushing the offense out of field-goal range.

Johnson doubled down by attempting a field goal that surpassed Bears kicker Cairos Santos’ career-long by five yards. The gamble paid off as Santos successfully connected on the kick.

Those final two decisions—throwing on third down and kicking from beyond the kicker’s established range—were incredibly bold. Had they failed, they would have drawn intense scrutiny. However, Johnson’s faith in his team was rewarded as they ultimately delivered for their coach.

Santos’ successful kick extended the Bears’ lead to nine points with only 90 seconds remaining, effectively sealing the victory.

2.

Drake Maye’s Most Reliable Connection Is With His Tight Ends, Not A.J. Brown

While Drake Maye continues to struggle in establishing chemistry with wide receiver A.J. Brown, the young quarterback showcased his playmaking ability through dynamic performances by his tight ends on Thursday night.

The touchdown pass to rookie tight end Eli Raridon served as a direct reflection of Maye’s extraordinary talent. During a first-and-15 situation in the third quarter, Chicago sent six rushers and quickly closed in on Maye. However, he managed to release the ball just in time, finding Raridon streaking down the seam with impressive separation against veteran linebacker Devin Bush.

The play stands well on its own merits, but it is also notable that Maye trusted Raridon again for a touchdown, especially after an earlier seam route interception to the rookie. While New England has largely kept Raridon quiet until now, his strong training camp performance suggests he will command more targets in the upcoming weeks.

However, the Patriots’ true offensive secret has been veteran tight end Hunter Henry, who stands out as one of Maye’s most favored and reliable targets. 

Henry featured prominently in another of Maye’s highlight-reel plays. On third down, Maye rolled to the right, evaded a sack, and spotted Henry slipping out of pass protection—likely via an improvised play—at the perfect moment to connect for a crucial first down.

They had no business converting that play, but Maye found a way to make it happen, largely thanks to the clever veteran presence of Henry.

It remains concerning that A.J. Brown continues to be a non-factor in this offense. However, it is likely just a matter of time before he adjusts and becomes a major contributor. For now, the positive contributions from the tight ends are an encouraging sign, even in defeat.

3.

Luther Burden III Is Rapidly Emerging As The Star The Bears Hoped For

This offseason, Chicago hyped Luther Burden III at a level rarely seen from an NFL franchise. Since Burden remained unproven during the summer, the Bears’ highly promotional strategy felt risky. What if he failed to live up to the expectations they set?

To some extent, he did fall short. Entering Week 7, Burden had posted solid, though unspectacular, statistics, including just one receiving touchdown and no 100-yard games. His best performance came the previous week against the Falcons, where he recorded a season-high eight catches for 95 yards. However, his showing against the Patriots defense was far from pedestrian.

He concluded the game with four receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown, alongside one carry for seven yards.

Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III celebrates his 24-yard touchdown against the Patriots. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

What stood out most was his ability to appear completely open on big plays, generating remarkable separation in some instances and capitalizing on coverage breakdowns in others. It was an outstanding performance from the young receiver, despite drawing first-half criticism from his quarterback for an elaborate touchdown celebration.

4.

The Patriots Executed A Clever Play To End The First Half

Near the end of the first half, New England offensive coordinator Jerod McDaniels dialed up a clever, deceptive play. Believing the Patriots were attempting a Hail Mary, the Bears responded with a five-man blitz and deep coverage. Instead, New England called a short screen pass to running back Stevenson.

Across the field, wide receiver A.J. Brown ran even with Stevenson, anticipating a lateral pass and positioning himself as an open option. As Stevenson crossed the 30-yard line and secured the ball, a lateral to Brown seemed imminent. However, Stevenson tucked the ball and sprinted past defenders virtually untouched into the end zone.

This spectacular sequence yielded six remarkable and highly improbable points just before halftime.

According to Next Gen Stats, the running back had a mere 4.3% chance of scoring once the ball reached his hands. Those odds shifted dramatically as he darted into the end zone, stealing crucial points heading into the second half.

Looking Ahead: Week 8 Matchups and Challenges

New England will look to bounce back in Week 8 with a road matchup against the Dolphins in Miami. The Patriots benefit from a mini-bye following their Thursday night game, which they will hope to utilize effectively. However, they must remain vigilant and avoid falling into a trap game against their divisional rivals. 

I understand that the Dolphins have struggled this season. However, playing in the warm Miami climate following a New England autumn will present a challenge. Furthermore, divisional matchups tend to be more competitive than anticipated, and the Patriots must approach the game with caution.

For Chicago, there is no rest following this intense contest. They transition from facing one contender to another, traveling to Seattle in Week 8 to take on the defending-champion Seahawks. 

The silver lining for Chicago is that Seattle appears slightly more vulnerable this season. Offensively, the Seahawks have missed the presence of running back Kenneth Walker, compounding challenges for quarterback Sam Darnold, who has been turning the ball over at an alarming rate. 

Nevertheless, Seattle’s defense remains elite, allowing the fewest yards per game in the league. This matchup will present another formidable challenge for head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams.

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