In the press field at Gillette Stadium earlier than Monday night time’s sport in opposition to the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears basic supervisor Ryan Poles advised reporters what he noticed as the following step for his younger group.
“For the age of our team, there have been a lot of games where we’re knocking on the door to win games,” Poles stated. “The next step is learning how to finish.”
Nearly 5 hours later, the Bears granted his want, scoring 23 unanswered factors from late within the second quarter into the fourth quarter to drag off a 33-14 victory over the Patriots.
The sport had some historic significance past the Bears beating the Patriots for the primary time since 2000 and the primary time ever in New England. It prevented Patriots coach Bill Belichick from passing Bears founder George Halas for sole possession of second place on the all-time wins listing, for per week at the very least.
But the importance of the sport for this season was that Justin Fields led the offense to 390 yards — together with 243 on the bottom — and a season excessive in factors.
Fields accomplished 13 of 21 passes for 179 yards with a landing and an interception and had 14 carries for 82 yards and a landing.
Running again Khalil Herbert caught a brief move from Fields that he was a 25-yard landing within the second quarter. David Montgomery added a 1-yard landing run within the fourth quarter. Each rushed for 62 yards.
Bears kicker Cairo Santos made area targets from 42, 23, 38 and 50 yards to enhance to 11-for-11 on the season.
The Bears protection had two first-half takeaways — rookie Jaquan Brisker’s first profession interception off beginning quarterback Mac Jones and Justin Jones’ fumble restoration — to assist the group pull to a 20-14 halftime lead.
Patriots rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe burst into the sport with two landing drives after changing Jones, who began after a three-game absence as a consequence of an ankle harm. But the Bears shut out the Patriots the remainder of the best way.
Bears linebacker Roquan Smith and rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon added fourth-quarter interceptions of Zappe to assist put the sport away.
Zappe accomplished 14 of twenty-two passes for 185 yards with a landing and the 2 interceptions.
Here’s how the sport unfolded.
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Inactives introduced
Wide receiver N’Keal Harry will make his Bears debut after lacking the primary six video games with an ankle harm that required surgical procedure in August.
Harry was cleared to play final week however wasn’t lively after a brief week of apply for a Thursday night time sport. Now with one other week underneath his belt, he’ll debut in opposition to his former group. The Patriots drafted Harry within the first spherical in 2019 and dealt him to the Bears in June for a 2024 seventh-round choose.
Inactive for the Bears are defensive again Lamar Jackson, defensive lineman Kingsley Jonathan, tight finish Jake Tonges and large receiver Isaiah Coulter.
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones will return from a three-game absence as a consequence of a excessive ankle sprain and reportedly is predicted to start out.
Jones was restricted in apply all week, however the Bears had been assured the Patriots offense wouldn’t change a lot whether or not Jones or rookie Bailey Zappe began.
Inactive for the Patriots are cornerback Shaun Wade, defensive deal with Christian Barmore, large receiver Kendrick Bourne, security Joshuah Bledsoe, linebacker Josh Uche, working again Kevin Harris and offensive deal with Isaiah Wynn.
Lucas Patrick leaves with toe harm
Bears heart Lucas Patrick was carted to the locker room within the first quarter.
Patrick went into the medical tent after the Bears’ second drive and got here out limping a couple of minutes later. He left the sector on a cart, and the Bears introduced he was uncertain to return with a toe harm.
The Bears shook up their offensive line to open the sport, transferring Patrick from left guard to heart. Veteran Michael Schofield began at left guard, and Sam Mustipher, who had been beginning at heart, went to the bench.
With Patrick out, Mustipher performed heart on the Bears’ third drive.
Halftime: 2 late scores give Bears 20-14 lead
Bears quarterback Justin Fields led two landing drives and the Bears protection had two takeaways to gasoline a 20-14 halftime lead in opposition to the Patriots.
Fields accomplished 9 of 13 passes for 133 yards with a landing and an interception and in addition had 10 carries for 74 yards and a landing in one among his greatest halves this season.
His play helped the Bears overcome a powerful displaying by Patriots rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe, who led landing drives on his first two sequence after changing starter Mac Jones.
The Patriots turned to Zappe when Jones, who was getting back from a three-game absence as a consequence of an ankle harm, threw an interception to Bears security Jaquan Brisker on their third drive.
Zappe then led a 55-yard drive, hitting Jakobi Meyers with a 30-yard landing move. Meyers was large open and caught the ball in need of the tip zone, however he jumped up and dived throughout the aim line as security Eddie Jackson received to him.
After Fields threw an interception to security Myles Bryant on a tipped move, Zappe adopted with a 43-yard move to DeVante Parker. Two performs later, Rhamondre Stevenson scored on a 4-yard run for a 14-10 lead.
The Bears answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Fields’ 25-yard landing move to Khalil Herbert with 1:54 to play within the half. And after a fumbled trade by the Patriots, Cairo Santos made a 23-yard area aim as time expired.
Fields’ 3-yard landing run with 2:11 to play within the first quarter gave the Bears a 10-0 lead. Fields accomplished a 19-yard move to Equanimeous St. Brown and a 14-yarder to N’Keal Harry to get to the 19-yard line. It was Harry’s first catch as a Bear. David Montgomery in some way emerged from a pile of gamers to hurry for 8 yards to the three to arrange Fields’ run.
Santos made two area targets, a 42-yarder on the Bears’ first drive and the 23-yarder on the ultimate play of the half.
The Bears protection received two takeaways: Brisker’s first profession interception and defensive deal with Justin Jones’ restoration after Zappe’s fumbled handoff.
Changes coming?
Matt Eberflus dropped sufficient hints in the course of the Bears’ evaluate of the primary six video games that it wouldn’t be a shock in the event that they had been to make a change on the offensive line.
The probably state of affairs is Michael Schofield taking on at left guard with Lucas Patrick sliding over to heart and Sam Mustipher heading to the sideline.
There are additionally questions concerning the group’s punt returner duties. Special groups coordinator Richard Hightower declined to say Friday whether or not Velus Jones Jr. would retain his job. But Hightower made it clear an in-season competitors has change into essential, itemizing receiver Dante Pettis, defensive again Josh Blackwell and, sure, even security Eddie Jackson as candidates to leap in.
‘Just got to work harder’
The time without work gave Bears QB Justin Fields time to evaluate a gap six-week stretch by which he accomplished 63 of 115 passes for 869 yards, 4 touchdowns, 5 interceptions and a 72.7 passer ranking with 23 sacks.
“(I found) that I can play better, and I’m always going to be like that,” he stated. “I’m a perfectionist, but it’s hard to be perfect. I can get better at everything regarding quarterback play.”
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Latest information from Arlington Heights
Arlington Heights village leaders promised involved residents a say within the impression the Bears’ proposed NFL stadium growth could have on the village if the Bears transfer forward with redeveloping the previous Arlington International Racecourse web site.
Mayor Tom Hayes promised two residents who, on the Village Board assembly, voiced considerations concerning the soccer group’s proposal that they “and other members of the public will have a full and fair opportunity to provide input before any votes are taken.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com