After more than a month of absence, the Chicago Bear are about to return to Soldier Field, and it’s a homecoming they desperately need. The Bears (4-4) are currently in free fall, having lost their last two games in different but brutal ways. In Week 8, the team was stunned by a Hail Mary that turned a certain victory into a shocking defeat. In Week 9, they were outplayed at every level and didn’t stand a chance.
This week, they welcome the New England Patriots (2-7) to town in hopes of getting things back on track to save their season. The Patriots are coming off a disheartening loss of their own after fighting to force overtime against the Tennessee Titans, only to throw a game-clinching pick minutes later.
They are considered one of the worst teams in the league, but they have players who could do some damage if the Bears aren’t careful. Here are five Patriots players we’ll keep an eye on when the game begins on Sunday.
1. QB Drake Maye
For the second time in three weeks, the Bears will be involved in a battle between rookie quarterbacks. Two weeks ago it was Caleb Williams versus Jayden Daniels. This week, Williams faces third overall pick Drake Maye, who took over as the starter in Week 6. Maye has yet to win a game he starts and finishes, but he is developing regularly even if he doesn’t have the best talents around him.
On the season, Maye has totaled 770 yards and six touchdowns to four interceptions, but it’s his rushing that has allowed him to play a role of late. Maye has 209 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. He doesn’t have the same explosiveness as Daniels, but he’s more athletic than people think. It will be a tough test for him, though, and this Bears defense can lure him into mistakes.
2. RB Rhamondre Stevenson
It’s been a strange season for Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson. He exploded in week one for 120 rushing yards, was “benched” for a quarter of the season after fumbling in four straight games, averaged 3.8 yards per carry, his career low, but has become a red zone merchant over the past two weeks scoring four. rushing touchdowns. What awaits Stevenson in Week 10? Nobody knows, but he has a favorable matchup on his side.
The Bears’ poor run defense was exposed last week by the Cardinals after they rushed for 213 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns in the first half alone with three different running backs. To make matters worse, defensive tackle Andrew Billings, their best rusher, was lost for the season due to a torn pectoral muscle. Stevenson has a chance to continue his streak of success against this defensive front.
3. TE Hunter Henry
There is nothing extraordinary about New England weapons. Their receiving corps is one of the worst in the league, and only one wide receiver has more than 300 receiving yards, and no pass catcher has more than one touchdown on the year. It’s clear to see why tight end Hunter Henry is the biggest receiver on the roster at this point, and he plays a Bears defense that hasn’t exactly stopped players at that position.
Henry is poised for a banner year in receiving yards. He caught 39 passes for 419 yards and a touchdown, already on pace to eclipse his yardage total from last year. A solid veteran tight end is a rookie quarterback’s best friend, and Henry should see a lot of looks.
4. DE Keion White
The Patriots are still in the early stages of a rebuild, but they have some influential young players on defense they can build around. One of them is defensive end Keion White, who took a big step forward in his second season in the league. White has four sacks this year, as well as two forced fumbles, leading the team in both categories. He also generates a lot of pressure on the quarterback, leading the league in quick pressures for interior defensive linemen with 18, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
This could be a big game for White, who faces an injury-ravaged Bears offensive line. The Bears are missing both starting tackles and may need to make changes to their line to compensate for their absences. They allowed six sacks last week to a Cardinals team that couldn’t rush the passer, so White has a chance to take full advantage. He will have to be confined all day to help Williams stay upright.
5. CB Christian Gonzalez
Another young player rising in the Patriots system is cornerback Christian Gonzalez, their first-round pick a year ago. Gonzalez’s rookie campaign was cut short due to injury, so he is making up for lost time in his sophomore season. Playing in nine games, Gonzalez has one interception and six assists while allowing an opposing passer rating of 77.6.
It’s early, but Gonzalez is shaping up to be one of the best cornerbacks in the 2023 draft class. He faces a tough test against the Bears’ receivers. Can DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze get the most out of the young defensive back? Or will the Bears avoid his direction on handoffs? This will definitely be one of the most exciting matchups in the game.
This article was originally published on Bears Wire: 5 Patriots players to watch against the Bears
