by Kevin Fishbain, Adam Jahns and Chad Graff
The Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots 33-14 at Foxboro on Monday night. Here’s what you need to know:
- The Bears scored 23 missed points after falling back 14-10 and dropped to 11 out of 18 in third place to record their highest overall score since 2020.
- Bailey Zappe replaced the Patriots, who started quarterback Mac Jones early in the second quarter, and led New England to back-to-back touchdowns in their first two runs.
- Both teams go 3-4 in the season. New England now sits last in the AFC East
of Athletic instant analysis:
Companion Bears football
Often in recent seasons (and weeks) the Bears have been the butt of jokes for their first performance. No one outside Halas Hall seemed to expect any upset, and the Bears looked too good to extend their losing streak.
Then they walked to Foxboro with the second-year quarterback, scoring the highest points of the season. Justin Fields was playing with his arms and legs, David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert were electric 1-2 punches, Matt Eberflus’ opportunistic defense was like that with only three packs, and Cairo Santos led the efforts of all-round special teams. Complementary football at its best when the Bears need it most. – fish cake
Output performance for OC Getsy
It was a great night for quarterback Fields, a breakout performance for Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. The call to play helped Fields look like the best player on the field, from designed runs at the right times to frequently changing throwing points for the young quarterback. The Bears were very successful in their third debut, thanks to what Fields and Getsy did together. – Jahns
GO FURTHER
Judging the Bears QB Justin Fields’ performance, progress: A roundtable discussion
Physical Bears defense
The Bears’ defense was physical all night. There were several individual performances to feel good about. He started with linebacker Roquan Smith, but all three rookies stood out.
Safety Jaquan Brisker and corner/nickel back Kyler Gordon, the Bears’ two second-round picks, both intervened. Rookie defender Dominique Robinson, fifth round pick was also spotted throughout the entire game. He reversed the direction of the pass that led to Smith’s interference. – Jahns
The Zappe spell doesn’t last
Zappe’s halftime appearance was magical. He replaced Jones and immediately led back-to-back touchdown drives. But the magic didn’t last. The team’s offense struggled in the second half, and the issues there will renew questions about who the quarterback is. Jones didn’t play well on his return from a high ankle sprain, but Zappe struggled as the game progressed and made an interception in the fourth quarter. The Patriots’ next game is a massive game against the Jets in New York. – graph
Fields sprawling all over the Patriots defense
Bill Belichick’s defense normally shreds young quarterbacks. But it wasn’t like that on Monday night. Fields ran all over the Patriots, making a number of games with his legs and designed runs. And the Bears were particularly good at third, dominating the kind of situational football that Belichick typically boasts. The Bears’ offense has struggled to score all season, but has had no such problems in New England. – graph
GO FURTHER
Howe: Why is Mac Jones’ alleged ‘attitude problem’ a mischaracterization of Patriots QB?
New England running game held in the Bay
The Patriots entered Monday Night Football as one of the best running teams in the NFL. But they got nothing against the Bears. Three quarters later, Jones was still the team’s leading offensive player with 24 yards, and Jones withdrew after three runs. It’s hard for any quarterback (let alone a rookie) to play when the offense is so one-dimensional. – graph
Highlights of the night
Patriots rookie Bailey Zappe replaced Mac Jones as quarterback in the second quarter.
Zappe found Jakobi Meyers for a tank destroyer on his first ride😳
🎥 @NFLpic.twitter.com/TKMzRmpqXU
— Athletic (@TheAthletic) 25 October 2022
state of the game
Fields has been one of only two players to have 100+ passing fields, 1+ passing TD, 70+ rushing yards and 1+ rushing TD in an opening half in the last 30 seasons. Russell Wilson completed the feat twice in Week 15 of the 2012 season and Week 5 of the 2014 season.
what do they say
Belichick told reporters after Monday’s game that Jones’ bench was not about performance. The Patriots coach said the plan was always to play both quarterbacks and that Jones’ health was “a factor” in that decision.
“We just finished the game,” Belichick said when asked about the name of a starter.
“I knew what the plan was… No hard feelings or anything,” Jones said at the post-game press conference.
When asked if he thought he would start against the Jets on Sunday, Jones said, “I think we’ll find out when Sunday comes.”
Required reading
– Judging the Bears QB Justin Fields’ performance, progress: A roundtable discussion
–Howe: Why is Mac Jones’ alleged ‘attitude problem’ a mischaracterization of the Patriots QB?
(Photo: Paul Rutherford / USA Today)
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