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The Patriots' offense ranked 32nd in the NFL in yards, 24th rushing and 32nd passing in Week 10. Their ground game is led by running back Rhamondre Stevenson (114 carries for 438 yards and six touchdowns), a powerful 227-pounder who is adept at breaking tackles.
Additionally, rookie quarterback Drake Maye has led New England in rushing in three of his four starts, including last Sunday when the 6-4, 225-pounder rushed for a career-high 95 yards on eight attempts in a 20-for-17 overtime loss lost to the Titans.
“When he decided he couldn’t accomplish his goal — being covered or unavailable — he turned into a running back,” defensive coordinator Eric Washington said. “He has tremendous size and speed. He is decisive. That's just hard. We have to make sure we keep him in the bag.”
The Bears understand that opponents will continue to attack them on the ground until they improve their run defense.
“We know something needs to be cleaned up,” Edwards said. “In the NFL, you’re going to keep seeing something until you put the fire out. We know it's coming and we're looking forward to it. We have the guys who can do it. We have the coaches and players who can do it.”
One challenge for the Bears' run defense going forward is the loss of nose tackle Andrew Billingswho was placed on the injured list this week with a torn pectoral muscle. The good news is that both defensive ends Montez sweat and nickel back Kyler Gordon are expected to return from their injuries on Sunday.
(2) Get the offense back on track.
After scoring five touchdowns in back-to-back games for the first time since 1956, the Bears' offense has only scored two touchdowns in the last two games. In last Sunday's 29-9 loss to the Cardinals, they were held out of the end zone and had just one drive inside the Arizona 20, resulting in one of their own Cairo Santos' three field goals.
“We just have to get back to scoring,” said Receiver DJ Moore. “We just had a game where Cairo had all the points and that leaves a sour taste in our mouths. We want to go out and score touchdowns for the team, the fans, the organization, whatever we have to do.” Whether it's throwing the ball, running the ball or scoring defensive touchdowns.
When the offense is at its best, it features a balanced attack with explosive plays on the ground and through the air. When there are problems, it's the result of negative plays like penalties and sacks that have the unit cornered in predictable passing situations.
“The negative plays [resulting in] “In the games where we weren't having as much success, we really found ourselves in situations where we weren't having as much success,” offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said. “These are scenarios that you as a player should stay out of.” Attack. When we play at a higher level, we know we're going to get more runs because we don't have as many negative plays. We remain efficient with this balance, the combination of run and pass. “
“The urgency definitely kicked in for us,” tight end said Cole Kmet. “We need to sort out some things and we haven't quite managed that yet. We need to be a consistent group and that’s what we strive for.”
The Bears hope the return to Soldier Field provides a boost. They have won all four home games this season with scores of 24:17, 24:18, 36:10 and 35:16. In those contests, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has completed 67.3% of his passes for 780 yards with seven touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 105.1.
On Sunday, the Bears face a New England team that is 1-4 on the road. The Patriots' defense ranks 25th in the NFL in total yards allowed, 26th in rushing, and 22nd in passing.
(3) Create constant pressure on the quarterback.
The Bears entered Week 10 having allowed the fewest touchdown passes (5) and the third-highest passer rating (77.2) in the league. They hope to continue that trend Sunday against Maye, the third pick in this year's draft.
After sitting behind veteran Jacoby Brissett for the first five games, Maye was named the starter in Week 6. He will enter Sunday's game having completed 65.6% of his passes for 770 yards with six touchdowns, four interceptions and an 85.1 passer rating.
Washington described Maye as “another person who can extend plays, who can make plays off schedule and who has done a lot with his ground scrum. So we have to do a great job of taking that away from him.”
Sweat's return on Sunday is key for a Bears defense that has produced multiple takeaways in five of their last six games.
“He’s a Pro Bowl-caliber player,” Washington said. “He is a person who is able to make outstanding plays and force the game. He is excellent in attack. We are all aware of the value it brings to our defense. We’re excited to have him back out there.” . His influence, his leadership, his talent will make a difference for us.
