CHICAGO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New England’s Deatrich Wise Jr. and Anfernee Jennings each had a pair of sacks as the Patriots buckled down defensively to beat the host Bears 19-3 on Sunday afternoon.
New England (3-7) had nine sacks in all and held the Bears to 142 yards of total offense. Chicago was forced to punt on eight of its first nine drives of the game, then turned the ball over on downs when it had possession for a 10th time.
The hosts had one last chance to make something happen, but they also failed to move the chains on fourth down on their final drive.
Drake Maye didn’t have to do much under center for the Patriots, completing 15 of 25 passes for 184 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Austin Hooper hauled in three catches for 64 yards.
Rhamondre Stevenson headlined the rushing attack for the visitors, going for 74 yards on 20 touches.
Caleb Williams was under constant duress and finished with 120 yards on 16-of-30 passing for the Bears (4-5), who have dropped three straight games. D’Andre Swift rushed for 59 yards on 16 carries.
Maye put New England in front for good when he found Ja’Lynn Polk for a 2-yard TD with 1:46 left in the second quarter to make it 10-3.
Joey Slye booted a 37-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to send the Patriots into the break up by 10.
Slye added fourth-quarter field goals from 25 and 33 yards out to put the finishing touches on the victory.
New England opened the scoring with 6:19 to go in the first quarter, getting a 30-yard field goal from Slye.
Chicago finally responded at the 7:17 mark of the second quarter, as Cairo Santos made good on a 33-yard field goal to provide the Bears with their only points of the afternoon.
The Patriots stopped Chicago on 13 of 14 third-down tries for the game.
–Field Level Media