The New England Patriots are staring down a 10-0 deficit against the Chicago Bears, and it is only the first quarter. This primetime game, where the Patriots were looking to snag their fourth straight win, has kicked off with a brutal gut punch for New England.
First Quarter Flops and Bears’ Big Plays
The Bears came out swinging, showing everyone they meant business right from the coin toss. After New England lost the toss, Chicago took the ball and immediately put points on the board. Cairo Santos drilled a 42-yard field goal to make it 3-0 just under ten minutes into the game. It was a quick drive that started with Caleb Williams linking up with Luther Burden for a 26-yard gain. Then, after a Patriots three-and-out, the Bears really opened it up. Luther Burden broke free for a massive 58-yard run, setting up D’Andre Swift for a four-yard touchdown run. Extra point was good, and just like that, it was 10-0 Bears with 1:38 left in the first. The Patriots, meanwhile, have gone nowhere fast, attempting to establish the run game, but it just hasn’t clicked. Rhamondre Stevenson had a tough time, even with a one-handed grab that didn’t get the first down, and Drake Maye got dropped on a failed fourth-down attempt.
The O-Line is Already on Life Support
You can’t talk about these early struggles without shining a glaring spotlight on the Patriots’ offensive line. Drake Maye is playing behind a patchwork unit, and it’s already showing. They are without Ben Brown and Alijah Vera-Tucker due to new injuries, and let’s not forget Michael Onwenu and top backup Greg Van Roten are already on injured reserve. That is a brutal hit to the trenches. Walter Rouse got called for holding, pushing them back to 1st-and-20 on one drive. It is a tough hand to play, and you have to wonder how long this group can hold up against the Bears’ pass rush. On the bright side, at least Christian Gonzalez is active after being questionable. That’s one less headache for them, but it doesn’t help the offense.
What’s Next for the Patriots?
This team needs to make some serious adjustments, and fast. Being down 10-0 in the first quarter is not how you get your fourth consecutive win, especially when you’re already missing so many key pieces up front. They’ve got to find a way to protect Drake Maye, get the run game going with Rhamondre Stevenson, and put some points on the board. The “Drake Maye-Caleb Williams show” was supposed to be a blast, but so far, it’s all Caleb. They need to turn this thing around or this primetime game is going to be a long night for New England.
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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