The New England Patriots are set to take on the Chicago Bears in a Week 7 Thursday night showdown. This is a game that has many interesting storylines, as the Patriots look to add to their three-game winning streak.
One of those storylines is this being the second meeting between Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. The two young stars faced each other as rookies two years ago with Maye getting the better of the head-to-head matchup.
However, so much has changed since that first meeting. The head coaches have changed, with the Patriots now having Mike Vrabel and the Bears adding Ben Johnson. Both quarterbacks are also significantly improved. Maye is coming off a season where he was second in the MVP voting, and Williams has taken his gifted natural talent to an elite level.
Another storyline to consider are the injuries plaguing the Patriots right now. They will be starting two new guards with Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown both out for the game. Walter Rouse and Matt Pryor will start at guard for the banged-up offensive front. The team might also be without right tackle Morgan Moses, who is questionable to play with a foot injury.
This will also be star wide receiver A.J. Brown's second game since returning from his high ankle sprain against the New York Jets last week. He had three drops in that game, while only hauling in three receptions for 27 yards. It was a forgettable performance that he would love to improve on Thursday night.
The Patriots have won their last three straight games against the Jets, Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills, while the Bears are coming off a victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Here are the final predictions from the Patriots Wire staff for the Week 7 game.
Danny Jaillet: Patriots 24, Bears 20
Jordy McElroy: Patriots 24, Bears 28
Sophie Weller: Patriots 20, Bears 17
Matt Legros: Patriots 27, Bears 21
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots Wire staff predictions for Patriots-Bears Week 7 game