Forty years after Super Bowl XX, the Bears and Patriots meet again under the lights at Soldier Field—this time on Thursday Night Football, with both clubs sitting at 4-2 and fighting for early-season positioning in their divisions. The night carries extra weight for Chicago: the franchise is honoring Mike Ditka, the iconic coach of that 1985 championship team, who passed away less than two weeks ago, with handout mustaches to attending fands. On the field, it’s a high-profile collision of the top two quarterbacks from the 2024 draft—Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick now operating in Ben Johnson’s system after a recent return from injury, and Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick who has helped New England string together three straight wins after a shaky start. Both defenses entered the night ranked among the league’s best in scoring and against the run, setting up a matchup that figured to be physical and low-margin. Instead, the first half delivered explosive plays, a critical end-zone interception, and a last-second touchdown that kept the Patriots within striking distance heading into the locker room.
First Quarter: Bears Jump Ahead, 10-0
New England’s opening drive stalled when Kyler Gordon sacked Drake Maye on fourth down, giving Chicago good field position. Cairo Santos cashed in with a 43-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
The Bears’ offense then hit a coverage breakdown. Luther Burden III took a short throw and raced 58 yards into the red zone. One play later, D’Andre Swift finished it with a 4-yard touchdown run. Santos’ extra point made it 10-0 with under two minutes left in the quarter.
Gooch Observation: Chicago’s early efficiency and Burden’s explosiveness set the tone. The Patriots’ offense looked stuck, and the Bears’ run defense (and Gordon’s pressure) limited New England early.
GoochHot take: Burden looked like the best player on the field in the opening 15 minutes. The 58-yarder wasn’t just a big play—it exposed a Patriots secondary that got caught flat-footed. Also, and I hate to say it, but this defense just looks faster with TJ Edwards and some of the older defensive players on the sidelines.
Second Quarter: Maye Answers, Burden Punches Back, Stevenson Crashes the Party
New England finally found rhythm. A 9-play, 74-yard drive ended with Drake Maye stretching across the goal line on a 7-yard scramble. Initially ruled short, Mike Vrabel challenged it and won. The score cut the lead to 10-7.
Gooch Hot Take: Had it been called a TD initially I wouldn’t really have a problem. But if the ankle is down or the ball hits bf the ball crosses – its down. You’re going to tell me that was clear and obvious? It’s just clear the NFL has utterly abandoned its preference for the call on the field.
Chicago answered after a big Zavion Thomas kickoff return. The drive stalled in the red zone (penalties and an incomplete to Rome Odunze), but Santos added a field goal for 13-7.
The momentum swung hard on the next possession. Maye lofted a pass into the end zone that D’Marco Jackson read perfectly and intercepted (Jackson >>>> TJ). Chicago took over and immediately scored: Williams hit Burden on a short pass, and Burden took it the rest of the way (helped by downfield blocking from Colston Loveland) for a touchdown. 20-7.
It was looking like it was all coming up Bears. I had mentally already headed into halftime. Perhaps that’s what the Bears defense did – because in an utterly inexplicably, inexcusable, series of players – the Bears allowed the Patriots to score a TD. On the final play of the half, Rhamondre Stevenson zig-zagged through the Bears’ defense for a 48-yard touchdown. The score made it 20-14 at intermission. Chicago will get the ball to start the second half.
It frankly reminded me of the dark days under Eberflus when we allowed an inexplicable TD by the Arizona Cardinals at the end of a half in a game we should have won.
Key moments of the First Half:
- Maye’s reviewed rushing TD showed his legs and New England’s willingness to fight.
- Jackson’s end-zone interception was the half’s biggest defensive play—it killed a potential go-ahead drive and set up Burden’s score.
- Stevenson’s 48-yarder at the buzzer prevented the Bears from carrying a three-score lead into the locker room.
Gooch First Half Observations and hot takes:
- Luther Burden has been the clear standout. Between the 58-yard setup and his own touchdown, he’s already over 100 receiving yards and has completely changed the geometry of Chicago’s offense.
- Drake Maye is creating with his legs (rushing TD) and has been efficient overall, but the end-zone interception was a brutal mistake at a critical moment.
- Both defenses have largely done their jobs except on the explosive plays. The Bears’ red zone hasn’t been perfect, but they’ve converted opportunities when they appear.
- Stevenson’s late heroics kept this game competitive. But for that play, the Bears have completely dominated the Patriots. The Bears still control the game, but New England proved it can strike quickly and you have to worry about a Vikings-game like meltdown.
Gooch Quip: The first half felt like two different games—Burden and the Bears building a comfortable lead, then Stevenson reminding everyone that Thursday Night Football doesn’t do quiet endings. Chicago has the lead, but the Patriots just made sure the second half won’t be a formality. A missed opportunity to be sure.
Third Quarter: Immediate Answers, One-Score Game
Chicago wasted no time putting the Stevenson buzzer-beater behind them. Taking the second-half kickoff, the Bears marched 72 yards in nine plays and finished with Caleb Williams’ 12-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland. The score pushed the lead to 27-14 and gave the home crowd early breathing room.
New England responded in kind. Drake Maye found rookie tight end Eli Raridon for a 30-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit back to one score at 27-21. The Patriots overcame penalties on the drive and showed they could still move the ball through the air.
Gooch Observation: Both offenses looked sharper out of the break than they had at times in the first half. Loveland’s red-zone connection gave Williams his second touchdown pass of the night, while Raridon provided Maye another reliable target. I have some questions about our defense.
Gooch Hot take: The third quarter was essentially a wash—each team scored once—but Chicago’s ability to score first after receiving the kickoff kept the Patriots chasing all night.
Fourth Quarter: Santos Seals It, Onside Kick Ends It
The final period featured field-goal drama and a late scramble. Cairo Santos’ 53-yard attempt doinked off the upright, briefly giving New England life and field position. Later, with the game still in the balance, the Bears drove into range only for Christian Barmore to sack Williams and appear to push them out of field-goal territory. Santos answered anyway, drilling a career-long 58-yarder to make it 30-21 with just over a minute left.
The Patriots managed a quick field goal to pull within 30-24, then attempted an onside kick. Rome Odunze recovered it, and Chicago ran out the clock.
Key moments:
- Santos’ 58-yarder was the decisive blow—it came after a sack that looked like it had taken the points off the board and effectively made the game a two-score contest with little time remaining.
- The doinked 53-yarder earlier kept the door open longer than it should have been.
- Odunze’s onside-kick recovery ended any remaining suspense.
GOOCHObservations and hot takes:
- Caleb Williams finished the night 22-of-33 for 308 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He made the late throws when the Bears needed them and avoided the big mistake that haunted Maye earlier.
- Drake Maye was productive overall (321 yards, two touchdowns) but the first-half end-zone interception and the inability to get a late defensive stop proved costly.
- Cole Kmet left the game after a lower-leg injury and was carted off, a blow for Chicago’s tight-end group going forward.
- Special teams, particularly Santos, were the difference in a game decided by six points.
GOOCH Quip: The second half wasn’t as chaotic as the first, but Santos’ long kick and Odunze’s recovery made sure the Bears left Soldier Field with the win they had been protecting since early in the third quarter.
Final Thoughts
In a game that opened with nods to Super Bowl XX and Mike Ditka, the Bears did just enough to protect an early lead and close out a 30-24 Thursday Night Football win that moves them to 5-2. Caleb Williams was efficient and mistake-free (22-of-33, 308 yards, two touchdowns), Luther Burden provided the explosive plays that set the tone, and Cairo Santos delivered the dagger with a career-long 58-yard field goal after a sack nearly took the points off the board.
Drake Maye kept the Patriots in it with 321 yards and two scores of his own, and Rhamondre Stevenson’s half-ending 48-yard catch-and-run made sure the night stayed tense, but New England’s first-half end-zone interception and inability to force a late stop left them short. Chicago recovered the onside kick to seal it, outdueling the No. 3 pick from their draft class on a night when both offenses produced but only one team consistently answered.
GOOCH FINAL THOUGHT: The Bears dominated this game in all phases. Only a few mistakes allowed the Patriots to stay in the game. What amazed me is that Caleb and this team, on both sides, refuses to allow game breaking plays to defeat them. The Bears take your shot and keep on going. And this team has made a statement in going to 5-2 against last year’s Super Bowl participant. BEAR DOWN!