An end zone interception and a slew of “ticky-tack” defensive penalties ultimately sealed the Patriots’ fate in their Week 7 loss to the Bears. Honestly, this whole game, especially being on Thursday Night Football, felt like a blur. You just knew this one wasn’t going to stick. After the final whistle, it was already over, forgotten. We’re all ready to shrug and move on.
Thursday Night Football Is a Vibe Killer
Look, kudos to the Bears, they got the job done. But let’s be real about Thursday Night Football. It’s the worst, an awful product that just doesn’t do justice to either team involved. I mean, sure, I watched because the Patriots were playing, but this was it for me. No more non-Thanksgiving TNF until next year. You don’t get the same quality of play, the same energy, when everyone’s on a short week. It wasn’t even a bad game in terms of actual play, actually one of the better ones I can remember from a Thursday night. But it just doesn’t feel right. Especially when you consider it was an away game for the Pats on such a short turnaround.
Questionable Calls and a Rookie’s Gamble
Let’s talk about the decision-making. Going for it on 4th-and-5 just a hair over midfield with a patchwork offensive line? Maybe not the sharpest call, even with the desire to be aggressive. Hindsight is 20/20, but it felt risky. Then there’s the Drake Maye pick. Other than that one, the kid looked very solid all night. What he saw there, or what Raridon was supposed to do, who knows? But that end zone interception was really the only blemish on his night, and you know what? It ended up deciding the game. That one play, man. That, and the refs finding every obscure footnote in the NFL rulebook to call a holding penalty on every single drive. You just have to laugh.
Defense Forgot How to Tackle
The other big piece of the loss? The defense. They couldn’t get off the field. It looked like they just forgot how to tackle out there. How many yards after contact did those Bears ball carriers get? It felt like they were dragging Patriots defenders with them, like something out of a cartoon. Tackles that should have been routine on a regular Sunday were missed, and the scoreboard reflected that. The D looked flat-out tired. It’s tough on a short week, but that’s gotta be better, right?
Ultimately, this was one of those games that you don’t dwell on. A short week, an away game, and a couple of key plays that just didn’t go the Patriots’ way. The outcome is clear, and the lessons, especially for the defense, are there to be learned.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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