BSJ Game Report: Patriots 19, Bears 3 - New England defense tallies 9 sacks

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ win over the Bears in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Defense dominates Williams, battered Bears' line: Chicago was missing their three top tackles, lost a guard early in this one, and the Patriots took advantage with a nice plan from defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. Patriots ended up sacking Caleb Williams nine times, limited the Bears to 1 of 14 on third down, 142 total yards and 2.4 yards per play. They often used Branden Schooler as a spy in the "Longhorns" package and Williams only rushed twice for 15 yards.

The sacks: 2—Deatrich Wise, Anfernee Jennings; 1—Jahlani Tavai, Jeremiah Pharms, Keion White, Dell Pettus, Schooler.

"We're able to get pressure on the quarterback," Jerod Mayo said. "We had nine sacks in the game, which is always good. And I would say the back end did a good job as far as coverage is concerned."

I warned you about the state of the Bears offense:

Balanced offense does its job: Drake Maye threw an early boneheaded pick (and nearly another one in the end zone later) but it didn't linger at all. He was largely efficient and kept the offense moving by going 15 of 25 for 184 yards, a touchdown to Ja'Lynn Polk and 4 rushes for 24 yards. The run game was much better. The backs combined for 29 rushes for 120 yards (4.1 average). Maye was sacked just once as the Patriots went back to the line of Lowe, Jordan, Brown, Onwenu and Jacobs.

"Drake, you know, still continues to go out there and make plays," Jerod Mayo said. "He's going to make mistakes, but this is part of his evolution. It's part of his growth and development."

TURNING POINT

Right before halftime, the Bears had the ball down 10-3 and were getting the ball back to start the second half. They gained 6 yards on 5 plays. A good Marcus Jones punt return started the drive at the 40. Maye was able to hit Kayshon Boutte for 23 yards and spike the ball to set up one of four Joey Slye field goals on a windy day and make it 13-3.

SECOND GUESS

Think this is a first this season: I don't have one.

THREE UP

DT Jeremiah Pharms: Sort of a representative for the entire from, Pharms stood out early with a sack and finished tied for second with five tackles. He was getting off blocks in the run game as well.

LB Jahlani Tavai: Did a little of everything in this game with a sack, team-high eight tackles helping to limit Chicago's backs to 18 for 58, and added a pass breakup.

QB Drake Maye: Had his usual 2-3 bad decisions but he stayed on task and distributed the ball to limit the negative plays. His execution before halftime was spot-on.

ONE DOWN

P Bryce Baringer: He certainly outkicked his opponent (who was awful) but he had a couple of back touchbacks (including one on a needles 75-yard punt). He did pin them once, however. But this category has slim pickings this week.

INJURIES

DB Marcellas Dial Jr. (head) was downgraded to out.

LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring) was questionable to return.

DT Jaquelin Roy (neck) was questionable to return.

TOP PLAYS

ONE TAKE BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

Just like the Jets game, the head coach and coordinators did their jobs ... can they do it consecutive weeks for once?: Mayo went out of his way to praise his three coordinators after the game. "I thought the coordinators did an excellent job the entire week, not only, you know, reiterating the message that I said in the squad meeting room, but but also just putting together a good game plan and knowing how we have to win football games, and that's through controlling the line of scrimmage," Mayo said.

He's definitely right, and everyone deserves their flowers. And I do wonder why it needed to take until Week 10 for the coaching staff to really do what they're paid to do — put the team in the best position to win that week. But it is what it is.

All I really want to know now is, can they do it again, or are we going to have to suffer through another Titans-like loss against the Rams? The Patriots won their coaching matchups with the Jets (interim coach) and Bears (Matt Eberflus is a dead man walking). Can they do it when the bar is raised a little? Didn't happen against the woeful Brian Callahan.