Caleb Williams led the Chicago Bears to a victory over the New England Patriots on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Soldier Field. The win pushed the Bears’ record to 4-2, matching New England’s mark entering the contest.
The prime-time matchup brought together the top two picks of the 2024 NFL Draft, featuring Williams as the No. 1 overall selection and New England quarterback Drake Maye at No. 3. Both signal-callers produced over 300 passing yards. Both signal-callers produced multiple scoring strikes, marking the first time since Week 11, 2018, between Jared Goff’s Rams and Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs that two quarterbacks under the age of 25 each had 300-plus passing yards and multiple TD passes, according to NFL Research.
Williams and Odunze Deliver in the Clutch for Chicago
With the Bears holding a precarious six-point lead and backed up on their own 10-yard-line with under five minutes remaining, Williams delivered a decisive third-down conversion. His response was a laser beam just over the outstretched arm of former teammate Kevin Byard and into the clutch grasp of Rome Odunze. It was an absolutely stellar throw that was one of myriad highlights on the night for Williams.
Odunze finished the second half with three receptions for 63 yards, capping his performance by recovering the Patriots’ late onside kick to secure the win. Colston Loveland recorded seven catches for 69 yards. Colston Loveland recorded a touchdown, while D’Andre Swift contributed 26 touches for 84 yards and a rushing touchdown, with Swift, Luther Burden, and Odunze all making big contributions. At halftime, the Bears trailed in time of possession, 16 minutes, 12 seconds to 13:48, marking just the second time all season they trailed in time of possession at the half.
Maye and Patriots Fall Short Despite Late Push
Drake Maye kept New England competitive. Over six games, Maye has passed for 1,463 yards at 243.8 yards per game, with 11 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 63.9% completion percentage, alongside 185 rushing yards and one rushing score on the ground.
Maye made plays with his legs, too, and he played well overall, though there was plenty to nitpick on a night when the offense went 2 of 7 on third down. New England’s wide receivers struggled to find space against the Chicago secondary, with a lack of production from wide receivers and a lack of tackling from defenders plaguing the Patriots. On the defensive side, New England’s tackling — an attribute Mike Vrabel teams hang their helmets on — missed 14 tackles.
Soldier Field Honors Late Coach Mike Ditka
The game served as Chicago’s first home appearance since the October 9 passing of Mike Ditka at age 86. Ditka was a former NFL tight end known for coaching the Bears for 11 years, winning 106 games in Chicago and helping the team win Super Bowl XX. That Super Bowl matchup saw the Bears beat the Patriots 46-10, though in the regular season Chicago’s win on Thursday was just its third over the last 12 meetings since that game.
The organization paid tribute to the Hall of Fame coach by announcing that the first 10,000 fans in attendance would receive knitted headbands that match Ditka’s iconic sweater, along with fake mustaches. A moment of silence was held before the game prior to the National Anthem.
Ground Game Controls Clock in Soldier Field Finale
After trailing in time of possession at halftime, the Bears leaned heavily on running back D’Andre Swift and a physical offensive line to salt away the game. Swift has rushed for 398 yards at 66.3 yards per game with six rushing touchdowns this season, adding 18 catches for 140 yards. Burden also starred as a big-play maven in the opening two quarters. Burden turned in four catches for 130 yards and a touchdown, including a 26-yard reception on the opening drive that set up a Cairo Santos field goal and a 3-0 advantage.