Bears Snap Patriots’ Win Streak 30-24 as Maye Throws for 321

The New England Patriots’ three-game winning streak ended Thursday night, Oct. 22, 2026, at Soldier Field, where the Chicago Bears held on for a 30-24 victory. Drake Maye threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns, but an end-zone interception late in the first half and a recovered onside kick in the final minute left New England at 4-3 heading into its Week 8 trip to Miami.

Patriots vs. Bears: how the game unfolded

Maye opened the scoring for New England with a 7-yard touchdown run with 11:33 left in the first half, according to the Associated Press game story. The swing came later in the second quarter. With the Patriots threatening, Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson intercepted a Maye pass in the end zone that was intended for rookie tight end Eli Raridon.

Chicago then stretched its lead to 20-7 when Luther Burden turned a screen pass on third-and-17 into a 24-yard touchdown with 14 seconds left before halftime. Instead of letting the Bears pull away after they received the second-half kickoff, New England answered on the final play of the third quarter: Rhamondre Stevenson slipped out of the backfield, caught a Maye lob over safety Cam Lewis and went 48 yards for a score, helped by a downfield block from DeMario Douglas.

Raridon also caught a 30-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. In the fourth, Bears kicker Cairo Santos missed from 53 yards, then hit a 58-yarder with 1:34 remaining. The kick was a career long and tied a Chicago franchise record. Maye drove the Patriots into range for Andy Borregales’ 47-yard field goal with 37 seconds left, but Chicago recovered the onside kick that followed.

Drake Maye vs. Caleb Williams, round two

The game was the second meeting between the two quarterbacks from the 2024 NFL Draft class. New England drafted Maye third overall; Chicago took Williams first. As rookies, Maye led the Patriots to a 19-3 win over Williams’ Bears.

This time Williams completed 22 of 33 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns in his second game back from a right hamstring injury. Per the AP, he became the first Bears quarterback with back-to-back 300-yard passing games since Mitch Trubisky in 2018. Burden finished with four catches for 130 yards, and tight end Colston Loveland caught a 12-yard touchdown.

Maye completed 24 of 31 passes. During the three-game winning streak that ended Thursday, he had thrown 10 touchdown passes and one interception. Asked about the end-zone pick, Maye said, “I wish I definitely had that one back.” Head coach Mike Vrabel said of his quarterback, “He gave us a chance. … I’m glad he’s ours,” and summed up the night with: “We did some good things. But again, didn’t do enough.”

A.J. Brown still building production

Receiver A.J. Brown caught three of six targets for 48 yards against Chicago, Boston.com reported. Through three games with New England since returning from a high-ankle sprain that cost him four games, Brown has nine catches for 101 yards and no touchdowns. With Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins on injured reserve, much of Thursday’s passing production went to running backs and tight ends; Stevenson alone had five catches for 93 yards.

“There’s no time for that,” Brown said when asked whether he was still acclimating to the offense. “I’ve just got to keep grinding and put my best foot forward, try to make plays, and get going.” Brown’s first game back was the 26-19 win over the Jets.

Injury notes from Chicago

Cornerback Christian Gonzalez played after being listed as questionable with an illness. Safety Kevin Byard was evaluated by trainers in the first half and returned, and defensive tackle Christian Barmore left late in the game, according to the AP. For Chicago, cornerback Malik Muhammad left with a toe injury and tight end Cole Kmet hurt his right knee.

What’s next: Patriots at Dolphins on Nov. 1

Thursday’s game gives New England extra rest before a Week 8 visit to Hard Rock Stadium. The Patriots play the Dolphins on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS, per the team’s official schedule, and the NFL game center lists Miami at 0-5. New England then returns home to face the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 8. For background on the division matchup, see our Patriots–Dolphins rivalry explainer.

The Bears (5-2) next play at Seattle on Monday night, Nov. 2. Thursday’s crowd of 60,520 also marked Chicago’s first home game since the death of Hall of Famer Mike Ditka on Oct. 9; the team held a pregame moment of silence in his honor.

Sources

• Associated Press via CBS Sports: Caleb Williams outduels Drake Maye as Bears hold off Patriots
• AP News: Patriots holding onto positives after 3-game win streak is snapped by Bears
• Boston.com: A.J. Brown on acclimating to Pats offense
• New England Patriots: 2026 Schedule
• NFL.com: Patriots at Dolphins Game Center

Featured image: Soldier Field, Chicago. Photo by Loco Steve, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.