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The Patriots took control by scoring 10 points in the final 1:46 of the first half to take a 13-3 halftime lead. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to receiver Ja'Lynn Polk and then completed a 22-yard pass to receiver Kayshon Boutte to set up Joey Slye's 37-yard field goal as time expired expired at halftime.
The Bears were limited to 11 first downs and converted on just 7% of their third down opportunities in the game (1 of 14).
“We have to pull together and find answers, because we have all the answers we need in the room,” said Eberflus. “We have evidence on tape and in games that we are playing great complementary football this year and playing with great passion.”
Caleb Williams completed 16 of 30 passes for 120 yards and a passer rating of 63.2 and was sacked nine times. D'Andre Swift ran for 59 yards on 16 carries.
Maye completed 15 of 25 passes for 184 yards with one touchdown, one interception and a passer rating of 79.4. The Patriots rushed for 144 yards on 35 attempts, led by running back Rhamondre Stevenson's 74 yards on 20 carries.
“We didn’t play well at all today,” Safety said Kevin Byard III. “Thanks to these guys. Their defense played better than ours and we didn't show the execution we needed to win the game… They put a lot of pressure on our quarterback; “We didn't put enough pressure on their quarterback and he made plays when he needed to in some critical moments of the game and that's how you lose.”
Midway through the first quarter, the Patriots took a 3-0 lead on Slye's 30-yard field goal. The kick was set up by Mayes' 28-yard pass to tight end Austin Hooper.
The Bears took the lead with a three-pointer on two possessions early in the game, which began at the ensuing New England 47 DeAndre Carter 38-yard punt return and 48 yards of his own after that TJ Edwards' Jumping interception of a Maye pass.
“I think we had a good start to the game with the big return and the interception,” said Eberflus. “We need to do a good job and capitalize on that to build early momentum.”
“The great thing I told the players is that we have evidence of this on tape. It would be different if you had no evidence. We have evidence of this. It’s the same people in the room, the same people in it. “So it’s important that we find a way to make this happen.”
The Bears later tied the score at 3-3 on Santos' field goal. Williams kept the drive alive with a 5-yard scramble up the middle on fourth-and-4 for the Patriots' 36 yards. But he left the guard behind Teven Jenkins exited with an ankle injury sustained during the game, further decimating an already thin line.
Starting tackles Braxton Jones (knee) and Darnell Wright (Knee) were inactive due to injury, as were the reserves Kiran Amegadjie (calf) and Nate Davis (back). Jenkins' exit left the middle Coleman Shelton as the only starting offensive lineman in his regular position. He was joined by the left tackle Larry Boromleft guard Doug Kramer Jr.right guard Ryan Bates and right tackle Matt Pryor.
Slye provided the only points of the second half with field goals of 25 yards midway through the fourth quarter and 33 yards with 2:17 remaining.
The Bears will look to bounce back next Sunday when they host the Packers.
“We have to stick together,” tight end said Cole Kmet. “It starts with the guys in the locker room. We need to come together here and be able to move forward.”
