Welp, it was far more entertaining than Super Bowl 20 … right?
The meeting of the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots on Thursday, Oct. 22, wasn’t nearly as consequential as that Super Bowl showdown from 40 years ago – when Mike Ditka’s troops fulfilled a foregone conclusion by securing their place in history and steamrolling the Pats 46-10 in New Orleans. (More on Iron Mike later.) But this edition of “Thursday Night Football” was far more compelling, two of the league’s seemingly playoff-bound squads and a pair of up-and-coming quarterbacks engaging in a nip-and-tuck affair in their second career meeting.
The Bears won this one, Chicago prevailing 30-24. But the winners and losers from this showdown are far more expansive:
WINNERS
2024 first-round QBs
Chicago’s Caleb Williams, the first overall pick two years ago, and New England’s Drake Maye – selected two spots afterward – both largely continued living up to their draft billing. The duo combined to pass for more than 600 yards while accounting for five total touchdowns.
Mike Ditka
Chicago and the Soldier Field faithful, specifically, finally got their chance to publicly celebrate and mourn the most famous coach – sorry, Mr. Halas – in Bears history. Ditka, who died Oct. 9, was honored with a moment of silence prior to kickoff. The stands were also filled with scores of sartorial tributes to the only coach to ever lead the Bears to a Super Bowl win, though he ultimately might have become more famous as a pop culture and civic icon given his distinctive appearance and personality. Ditka, the first tight end ever enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was also remembered in various other ways. Rest easy, Coach.
89 forever 💙 pic.twitter.com/EdesuIiCju
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 22, 2026
Josh McDaniels
Nifty play New England’s longtime offensive coordinator drew up to end the first half, one that resulted in a 48-yard catch-and-run touchdown for RB Rhamondre Stevenson, who weaved through the remnants of a Chicago defense clearly more concerned with defending against a Hail Mary … which becomes a more viable alternative the next time the Patriots are in this situation.
RHAMONDRE STEVENSON TO THE HOUSE ‼️
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) October 23, 2026
He covered a total distance of 68.18 yards on this 48-yard TD, per @NextGenStats
NEvsCHI on Prime Video
Stream on #NFLPluspic.twitter.com/ndF6TMwRRa
LOSERS
Bears defense
Really? Nobody could rally to bring down … Rhamondre Stevenson? Y’all are lucky Ditka wasn’t there to rip you. Or Buddy Ryan. RIP and RIP.
Joe Thuney
The perennial All-Pro guard and league’s inaugural Protector of the Year in 2025 has never scored a touchdown in his 11 NFL seasons. Ben Johnson tried to set him up with an opportunity Thursday, but poor execution of what was flagged as an illegal forward handoff to a lineman precluded any shot at glory for Thuney on this night.
Caleb Willians just handed the ball off to Joe Thuney 💀pic.twitter.com/YxT3KcmKT9
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 23, 2026
Cole Kmet
Entering this game, the Bears’ seventh-year tight end – and one of their better players – had missed one game in his career. Unfortunately, he was carted off in the fourth quarter with an apparent leg injury. Hopefully the prognosis is better than the optics for the former Notre Dame star.
Drake Maye turnover bug
The 2025 runner-up for league MVP got off to a horrid start this season, turning the ball over nine times during the Pats’ 2-2 start. Maye had clean sheets in Week 5 and 6 but threw a costly interception – on what seemed like a very poor read – Thursday, his interception costing New England points in a game where every one of them was precious.
This was Drake Maye's 3rd interception on a pass thrown to the end zone this season. No other NFL QB has more than 1 such INT.
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) October 23, 2026
(via @ChicagoBears)pic.twitter.com/c1joWtbYXA
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caleb Williams outduels Drake Maye as Bears down Patriots on TNF: Winners and losers