The Chicago Bears just snagged one of their signature victories of 2026, taking down the reigning AFC champions, the New England Patriots, on Thursday Night Football. This game will definitely go down as a monumental win for the Bears this season.
The Grind and the Win
The New England Patriots rolled into Soldier Field on a short week, already battling a long list of injuries. But let’s be real, the Bears weren’t exactly coming in fresh either. They were missing key players like RB Kyle Monangai, DE Dayo Odeyingbo, LB Jack Sanborn, and their original starting LT Braxton Jones, among others. Add to that, S Coby Bryant still hasn’t played a snap this season, and DE Montez Sweat was finishing up his two-game suspension. Even QB Caleb Williams, back from a hamstring injury, was favoring it if you watched closely enough. Yet, none of that stopped them. The Bears owned this game from start to finish, even if things got a little tight at the end. They proved they know how to play with a lead, which is a total shift from last year’s come-from-behind heroics.
Burden III Goes OFF
Talk about a breakout performance! While Caleb Williams keeps showing up big, consistently delivering the kind of play that could earn him a game ball every week, it was WR Luther Burden III who truly stole the show on offense. He had his best game of the young season, becoming the main target in the first half. Burden scored the Bears’ second touchdown, turning a short pass from Williams into a massive 24-yard reception. That play pushed the score to 20-7 with just 14 seconds left before halftime. But Burden wasn’t done. Earlier in the first quarter, he nearly broke another one, hauling in a 58-yard reception where NextGenStats clocked him at a ridiculous 11.3 yards away from the nearest defender when the ball arrived. The dude was *wide open*! By the time the final whistle blew, Burden III racked up four catches for 130 yards, one touchdown, and even added a seven-yard run.
Jackson’s Defensive Gem
On defense, the game ball goes to LB D’Marco Jackson, and man, what a find he’s been for the Bears. They snagged him off waivers from the New Orleans Saints last year, and he’s been on a tear, working his way up the depth chart due to injuries and just elevating his whole game. He’s become one of their most reliable defenders, no question. Jackson made a critical, drive-stopping play, picking off Patriots QB Drake Maye right in the end zone. That pick killed a potential scoring drive, and who knows how that could have swung the momentum? Total game-changer.
This victory over the reigning AFC champions, especially considering all the injuries and the new focus on playing with a lead, is a massive statement win for the Bears. It’s clear this team is building something special in 2026, and performances like these from Burden III and Jackson are exactly what they need to keep this momentum rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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