After winning three straight, including a Sunday victory over the New York Jets, the New England Patriots have almost no time to celebrate. They are immediately turning their attention to a Week 7 clash on Thursday Night Football, and that quick turnaround is just one of their challenges. The Chicago Bears, despite currently ranking third in the NFC North, are looking like one of the best teams in football right now, rocking a good offense, a strong defense, and a solid return game.
Matching Records, Different Journeys, Unexpected Threats
Both the Patriots and Bears hit this prime-time matchup with identical 4-2 records. But those numbers tell an even deeper story: the Bears, in Year 2 under head coach Ben Johnson, are a legitimate contender, looking surprisingly similar to their opponent this week. They’re both performing at a high level. Chicago boasts a scoring differential of +31, ranking fifth in the league, while New England is at +23, tied for ninth. The Bears are putting up 25.0 points per game (12th), just ahead of the Patriots’ 22.7 (t-18th). On defense, the Patriots are slightly tighter with 18.8 points allowed per game (5th) compared to Chicago’s 19.8 (6th).
When you look at the offensive firepower, the Bears are averaging 388.3 yards per game (5th) with the Patriots close behind at 374.2 (7th). Both teams have had their struggles on the ground, with the Bears at -0.076 Off. EPA/run (12th) and the Patriots even worse at -0.181 (25th). The defensive numbers are also incredibly tight, with the Bears allowing 302.3 yards per game (7th) and the Patriots 300.8 (6th). However, one area Chicago definitely needs to clean up is turnovers. Their turnover differential sits at -2 (t-19th) with 11 giveaways (t-24th), while the Patriots are even deeper in the hole at -6 (30th) with 13 giveaways (31st).
Williams Out, Offense Still Kicking, Defense Dominating
Here’s the kicker: Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has only played three games this season. He hurt his hamstring late in Week 2, forcing him to sit out the next three. Yet, despite their starting QB missing nearly half the season, Chicago’s offense is still in the top half of the league in multiple categories. They are moving the ball well and converting on third down a fantastic 45.5% of the time, which is sixth best in the league. However, just like the Patriots, they have had their issues finishing drives. The Bears are tied for 22nd with a 50.0% red zone rate and are tied for sixth-worst in total giveaways (11) and turnover rate (16.2%).
Defensively, this unit has been performing very well, especially against the pass. That is another big similarity with the Patriots, who, like the Bears, have had some trouble defending the run. Turnovers have definitely boosted Chicago’s overall defensive rankings, but so has their ability to generate serious pressure. The team’s 17 sacks and 30.2% pressure rate are both top-5 in the league through six weeks. That is how you keep opponents on their toes.
The Bears’ Road To 4-2: Proving Doubters Wrong
So, how exactly did the Bears get to 4-2 with their starting QB missing significant time? After Caleb Williams got injured in Week 2, the team still managed to go 2-1 during his absence. That is a real testament to their backup quarterbacks and the overall talent on the roster, especially considering they picked up wins against the Philadelphia Eagles (27-7) and the New York Jets (23-12) during that span. Those are both beatable teams in 2026, sure, but wins are wins.
Their season started strong with a huge 59-37 win at the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. They suffered their first loss to the Minnesota Vikings, 9-3, in Week 2, the game where Williams was injured. After their wins against the Eagles and Jets, they dropped a 31-7 game at the Green Bay Packers. But they bounced back hard in Week 6 with a 31-23 victory at the Atlanta Falcons, pushing their record to 4-2. This Thursday Night Football clash isn’t just another game; it is a serious test for both the Patriots and the Bears, and it is going to tell us a lot about who is for real this season.
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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