Patriots close first half of 'Thursday Night Football' with Rhamondre Stevenson TD thanks to bizarre misfire by Bears coverage

The Chicago Bears had a pretty good first half of “Thursday Night Football,” until there were three seconds left on the clock.

A last-gasp play by the New England Patriots resulted in a 48-yard receiving touchdown for running back Rhamondre Stevenson, whom the Bears left unchecked out of the backfield. Quarterback Drake Maye quickly found Stevenson, who had a blocker and dozens of yards of open field in front of him.

Even when Stevenson had the ball, the Bears’ deep coverage should have been able to bring him down. However, a bad angle by cornerback Jaylon Johnson, a friendly fire collision between defensive backs Dillon Thieneman and Kyler Gordon and a lack of speed from behind by cornerback Cam Lewis turned a four-on-two disadvantage into a win for New England.

This is not stuff you often see from an NFL defense.

The play doesn’t get much better when viewed from a dots perspective.

Up to that point, the Bears had reason to feel good, with touchdowns by Luther Burden and D’Andre Swift, plus a pair of Cairo Santos field goals, giving them the lead. Before that fateful play, they had outgained New England 217-179.

Momentum only carries you so far in the NFL, though.