Williams Shines as Bears Beat Patriots 30-24 for Fifth Win
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns as Chicago beat the New England Patriots 30-24 on Thursday night.
The win takes the Bears to 5-2, and the pairing of coach Ben Johnson and Williams once again thrilled NFL fans.
In a game decided by just six points, a costly second-quarter end-zone interception by Drake Maye loomed large — leaving guaranteed points on the turf and forcing New England to chase the game all night. It was Maye's third end-zone interception of the season.
In his second game back from a hamstring injury, Williams completed 22 of 32 passes for 308 yards — the first Bears quarterback since Mitch Trubisky in 2018 to throw for more than 300 yards in consecutive games.
Bears running back D'Andre Swift said after the game: 'It's amazing having Williams on the field. His leadership, his competitiveness — everyone around here feels it. He gets us going.'
It was the second meeting between longtime friends Williams and Maye since the 2024 NFL draft, where Chicago took Williams first overall and New England picked Maye at No. 3.
Luther Burden had four catches for 130 yards for Chicago, and Colston Loveland took a 12-yard touchdown reception.
Late in the game, Cairo Santos kicked a career-best 58-yard field goal, matching the franchise record, to put the Bears ahead 30-21 with 1:34 left.
But Maye kept New England alive — Andy Borregales's 47-yard field goal made it 30-24 with 37 seconds to go. Chicago recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
Maye finished 24 of 31 for 321 yards and two touchdowns. The defeat broke New England's (4-3) three-game winning streak, during which Maye had thrown 10 touchdown passes with just one interception.
Rhamondre Stevenson had five catches for 93 yards and a touchdown for the Patriots; his 48-yard touchdown run just before halftime kept New England from a frightening deficit.
It was Chicago's first home game since Mike Ditka's death on 9 October. The Hall of Fame tight end and longtime coach was honored with a pregame moment of silence, and many of the 60,520 fans wore fake mustaches in his memory.
The Bears jumped to a 10-0 first-quarter lead on Santos's 43-yard field goal and Swift's four-yard touchdown run. Maye answered early in the second quarter with a seven-yard scoring run.
The teams traded touchdowns in the final 14 seconds of the half — after Williams hit Burden for a 24-yard touchdown pass, Maye responded with a 48-yard touchdown throw.
Coach Johnson's clock management in the closing minutes was exceptional, leaving the Patriots' coach — his former boss — to watch his old disciple out-duel him.
