Caleb Williams, Bears beat Maye, Patriots 30-24

Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns as the Chicago Bears beat Drake Maye and the New England Patriots 30-24 on Thursday Night Football at Soldier Field. The win lifted Chicago to 5-2 and snapped New England’s three-game winning streak, according to the official box score and The Associated Press.

Williams completed 22 of 33 passes without an interception in his second game back from a right hamstring injury. He became the first Bears quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in consecutive games since Mitch Trubisky in 2018, The Associated Press reported.

Rookie receiver Luther Burden III caught four passes for 130 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown on a screen on third-and-17 with 14 seconds left in the first half that put Chicago up 20-7. Tight end Colston Loveland had seven catches for 69 yards and a 12-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and D’Andre Swift ran for 78 yards and a score.

Maye was 24 of 31 for 321 yards with two touchdown passes, and he ran for another score. His costly play came late in the second quarter, when Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson intercepted him in the end zone on a pass meant for rookie tight end Eli Raridon.

“You know those plays that can swing the game, can impact the game, and that was definitely one of them,” Maye said, according to the AP.

New England answered with Rhamondre Stevenson’s 48-yard touchdown catch on the final play of the half, and Raridon’s 30-yard touchdown cut the gap to 27-21 in the third quarter. Cairo Santos then kicked a 58-yard field goal with 1:34 left, a career long that matched the Bears’ franchise record. Andy Borregales answered with a 47-yarder with 37 seconds to go, but Chicago recovered the onside kick.

It was the second meeting between the two quarterbacks from the 2024 draft. Williams went first overall and Maye third, and the Patriots won their first matchup 19-3 when both were rookies. New England fell to 4-3.

The game was Chicago’s first at home since Hall of Famer Mike Ditka died on Oct. 9. The Bears held a moment of silence before kickoff, and fans in the crowd of 60,520 wore fake moustaches in his honour.

Bears tight end Cole Kmet hurt his right knee in the fourth quarter. Coach Ben Johnson said the team would know more Friday but that it did not look good.

Earlier this month, receiver A.J. Brown returned to practice for the Patriots. Around the league last weekend, the Packers beat the Cowboys 23-13.

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Sources: ESPN box score; The Associated Press.