10/22/2026 10:40:00
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10/22 22:38 CDT Caleb Williams throws 2 TD passes as the Bears beat Drake Maye
and the Patriots 30-24
Caleb Williams throws 2 TD passes as the Bears beat Drake Maye and the Patriots
30-24
By JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) --- Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns, and the
Chicago Bears cooled off Drake Maye and the New England Patriots with a 30-24
win on Thursday night.
Williams was 22 of 33 passing in his second game back after being sidelined by
a right hamstring injury. He became the first Bears quarterback to throw for
more than 300 yards in consecutive games since Mitch Trubisky had a three-game
run in 2018.
Williams outdueled Maye in their second meeting since the longtime friends were
part of the 2024 NFL draft. Williams went No. 1 to Chicago, and Maye was
selected by New England at No. 3.
Luther Burden had four catches for 130 yards for Chicago (5-2), and Colston
Loveland had a 12-yard touchdown reception. Cairo Santos kicked a 58-yard field
goal with 1:34 left, a career long and matching the franchise record, after he
missed a 53-yard attempt earlier in the final quarter.
Maye was 24 for 31 for 321 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw a costly
interception in the end zone in the first half.
New England (4-3) had won three consecutive games behind Maye, who threw 10 TD
passes and one interception during the win streak.
Rhamondre Stevenson had five catches for 93 yards and a touchdown for the
Patriots. Eli Raridon had a 30-yard TD catch in the third quarter.
After Santos' long field goal, Maye drove New England into range for Andy
Borregales' 47-yarder with 37 seconds to go. But Chicago recovered the ensuing
onside kick.
It was Chicago's first home game since Mike Ditka died on Oct. 9. The Bears
saluted the Hall of Fame tight end and longtime coach with a pregame moment of
silence, and they also handed out fake mustaches to the crowd of 60,520 at
Soldier Field.
Ditka's No. 89 jersey dotted the stands, and fans also donned Bears sweaters in
a callback to what Ditka wore on the sideline as a coach.
Chicago opened a 20-7 lead on Burden's 24-yard touchdown with 14 seconds left
in the first half. Burden got the ball on a screen on third-and-17, and
Loveland, Kalif Raymond and Darnell Wright helped clear the way for his second
TD reception of the season.
Set to receive the second-half kickoff, the Bears were in position to pull
away. But the Patriots responded with Stevenson's 48-yard touchdown reception
on the final play of the period.
Stevenson slipped out of the backfield and Maye lobbed the ball over the head
of Bears safety Cam Lewis. Stevenson ran away from Lewis and got a downfield
block from DeMario Douglas before cutting past Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson
on his way to the end zone.
Injuries
Patriots: CB Christian Gonzalez played after being listed as questionable
because of an illness. ... S Kevin Byard departed after he was checked out by
trainers with 9:44 left in first half. He later returned. ... DT Christian
Barmore departed late in the game.
Bears: CB Malik Muhammad left in the third quarter with a toe injury. ... TE
Cole Kmet hurt his right knee on a reception with 5:34 left.
Up next
Patriots: At Miami on Nov. 1.
Bears: At Seattle for a Monday night game on Nov. 2.
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