Bears crush Patriots as New England’s QB situation remains uncertain
Mac Jones threw a pick as the fans chanted Bailey Zappe's name. Then the rookie QB replaced him and threw two of his own.
Well, at least Mac Jones can say he had a chance.
The Patriots quarterback started the game after missing the past three outings with a high-ankle sprain. He only lasted three drives.
After a pair of three-and-outs, and an interception that came while the fans chanted Bailey Zappe’s name, Bill Belichick pulled the former first-round pick and played the rookie instead.
Zappe promptly led the Patriots to touchdowns on his first two drives, and the fans erupted with cheers.
But ultimately, the Patriots struggled to move the ball on the ground, and as a result the passing game had a hard time opening up. Zappe threw a pair of interceptions and lost a fumble that set up a key Chicago score.
As New England attempted to figure out its quarterback situation, the Chicago offense put together its best performance of the season.
Despite intense pressure from Matthew Judon, who racked up 2.5 sacks by halftime, Chicago quarterback Justin fields rushed for over 82 yards and made enough plays with his arm to gash the Patriots’ defense.
The Patriots were without Kyle Dugger and Adrian Phillips for a decent chunk of the second half. And Christian Barmore was out with a knee injury.
But that doesn’t change the fact that Chicago, which came in as the NFL’s 30th-ranked offense, came into Foxborough and scored 30-plus points.
Bill Belichick didn’t get the win he needed to pass George Halas for second all-time on the NFL coaching wins list. He’ll have to try again next week on the road against his former team, the New York Jets.
Here’s how the Patriots got blown out on Monday Night Football:
Fourth Quarter
2:42: Another Zappe pick. He was trying to hit Tyquan Thornton but Kyler Gordon made the play instead. Brutal.
4:33: Andrews has left the game and will be evaluated for a head injury.
8:24: Zappe has a pass tipped and intercepted by Roquan Smith. David Andrews is down after getting hit with a blindside block. No. 64 from Chicago, who delivered the hit, has been ejected.
12:13: Montgomery scored on a 1-yard run. Yikes, New England is getting blown out on Monday Night Football. Chicago 33, New England 14.
13:38: David Montgomery slips past a tackle for a big gain, giving Chicago first and goal at the Patriots’ 5.
Third Quarter
0:00: The quarter ends with the Bears threatening to score again. Chicago has 1st-and-10 on New England’s 26 to start the fourth.
2:13: Bears take over at New England’s 39 after a long punt return. Zappe bounced his third down throw into the ground. Pressure appeared to be getting to him on that short drive. Three-and-out. Stadium is quiet again.
3:50: A 50-yard field-goal increases Chicago’s lead to 12. Chicago 26, New England 14.
9:04: Zappe is sacked on third-and-6. Roquan Smith came flying in with the pressure. Patriots forced to punt.
9:14: Kyle Dugger is questionable to return with an ankle injury.
9:54: Chicago hits another field-goal. Chicago 23, New England 14.
12:11: St. Brown gains 11 yards and runs out of bounds.
13:28: Pettis breaks off a 29-yard run for Chicago.
Second Quarter
0:11: Fields completes a pass to Darnell Mooney, Bears have 1st and goal at the New England 10 but with only a few seconds left on the clock will settle for a field-goal. Chicago 20, New England 14.
0:21: Anfernee Jennings gets a 15-yard sack, pushing Chicago back and leading to a 3rd and 16. New England takes a 30-second time out.
1:20: Judon gets his second sack of the half. He’s been dominant. Bringing the pressure this defense needs to stay in it.
1:32: Zappe gets hit at the line of scrimmage and fumbles. The Bears recover, putting Chicago in good field position.
2:00: Fields hits Kahlil Herbert on a 25-yard screen pass for a touchdown. There was only one Patriots defense near Herbert at the second level, and he got crushed by a lineman who hustled to get to the second level. Herbert had a wide lane and a crew of blockers to guide him to the endzone. Chicago 17, Patriots 14.
6:04: Rhamondre Stevenson scampers into the endzone on an off-tackle run. Patriots take the lead, Zappe pumps his fist. New England 14, Chicago 10.
7:27: Zappe. Play action. Plenty of time. A covered DeVante Parker comes down with a 43-yard reception putting the Patriots in the red zone.
7:34: Fields has a pass tipped, and Myles Bryant is there to snag it for an interception. Credit Judon on the tip, he’s making an impact yet again. All of a sudden the Patriots are showing some life.
9:30: Justin Fields gets 15 yards on a designed QB run down the right sideline. That’s one part of his game that is truly dangerous. He can run it.
9:43: Here comes Zappe! Touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers on his first drive. “Zappe!” chants grow louder. It’s Zappe Hour at Gillette. Chicago 10, New England 7.
12:16: Matthew Judon comes up big with a third down sack, forcing Chicago to punt.
13:16: Fans began chanting Bailey Zappe’s name, and almost immediately after that Jones is intercepted, sparking boos from the crowd. Not a great start passing-wise for the former first-round pick. Still, it’s worth noting he’s not getting much help from the run game yet.
14:12: Another 8-yard scramble from Jones. He’s the Patriots’ leading rusher so far, averaging 8 yards per carry on his first three runs. His average yards per completion? 3.3 so far.
First Quarter
0:07: Hunter Henry closes out the quarter with a catch that he had to jump for. He bobbled it as he got hit, but hung on for the 12-yard catch which resulted in a first down.
1:17: Jones scrambled up the middle for a ten-yard gain. Yeah, the ankle is looking healthy.
1:59: Jones takes a shot at Tyquan Thornton downfield. Thornton had a step on his defender, but the ball fell just past his outstretched arms incomplete.
2:05: Chicago racked up six first downs before New England got one. Mac Jones’ first two drives yielded a total of 15 yards. Time to see how drive No. 3 looks.
2:11: Fields scores on an option keeper, and makes it look easy. This Bears offense has struggled mightily so far this season, but they’ve quickly opened up a double-digit lead on New England. Chicago 10, New England 0.
4:01: Former Patriots receiver N’Keal Harry is booed following his first catch. The game is Harry’s first of the season after returning from injury. Belichick said earlier in the week that Harry was talented, but it just didn’t work out for him in New England.
5:33: A blitzing Jack Jones stuffs Chicago’s running back for a 2-yard loss. On the next play, Justin Field buys some time with his legs, eventually finding an open Equanimeous St. Brown for a first down.
6:29: Another three-and-out for the Mac Jones-led Patriots. Jones got sacked on second down, leading to offsetting penalties. Trent Brown got whistled for a second penalty, pushing the Patriots back on third down. A five yard gain from Stevenson isn’t enough for the first.
9:02: The Bears march 24 yards down the field and hit a field goal for the game’s first score. Chicago 3, New England 0.
12:50: Mac Jones’ first drive back ends in a three and out. A short run by Rhamondre Stevenson, followed by a screen to Stevenson, and a scramble by Jones led to a punt.
Belichick confirms Mac Jones will start, 7:45 p.m.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said that Mac Jones will start the game during a radio appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
It’s the first game back for Jones since he was injured in a loss to Baltimore last month.
Bailey Zappe, who went 2-0 as a starter after taking the Green Bay Packers to overtime in his debut, will back up Jones.
Analysis on Patriots inactives, 7:00 p.m.
- Isaiah Wynn, who leads the league in penalties and has struggled with consistency in pass protection, is out with a shoulder injury. Marcus Cannon, who began the season on the practice squad before being activated earlier this month should see most of the snaps in his place.
- The Patriots will try to contain Chicago’s rushing attack, which features dual-threat quarterback Justin Fields, without Christian Barmore up front. It’s the second consecutive week Barmore has missed with a knee injury. Fortunately for the Patriots, Lawrence Guy returns after missing a couple weeks.
- Kendrick Bourne is out, but Nelson Agholor comes back. Agholor has had some costly turnovers, but he also had a clutch catch that pretty much saved the Patriots against Pittsburgh. It will be interesting to see how Tyquan Thornton can impact the game as he continues to get more comfortable.
Inactives, 6:45 p.m.
Patriots: DB Shaun Wade, DL Christian Barmore, WR Kendrick Bourne, DB Joshuah Bledsoe, LB Josh Uche, RB Kevin Harris, OL Isaiah Wynn.
Bears: DB Lamar Jackson, DL Jonathan Kingsley, TE Jake Tonges, WR Isaiah Coulter.
Practice squad elevations, 6:30 p.m.
The Patriots elevated linebacker Jamie Collins and offensive lineman Bill Murray from the practice squad to the active roster.
New England did not elevate Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who saw significant snaps earlier in the season. Rookie Tyquan Thornton, who was taken off injured reserve last week has helped fill in some of the Patriots receiver depth.
Quarterback Garrett Gilbert was not activated, which leaves Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe as the Patriots only active quarterbacks. That probably means Jones is at least healthy enough to play.
Pregame Notes, 6:15 p.m.
Welcome to Week 7, where the Patriots are set to host the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium.
After missing the last three games with a high-ankle sprain, Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is reportedly expected to start according to the Athletic’s Jeff Howe.
Two hours prior to the game, there was no official word from the Patriots on whether the starting quarterback will be Jones or Bailey Zappe, who threw for over 300 yards in last week’s win against Detroit.
New England did not activate third-string quarterback Garrett Gilbert, which makes Jones and Zappe the only active quarterbacks on the Patriots roster tonight.
The Patriots will take on a Bears team that has struggled offensively but presents a stronger defensive challenge than anything the Patriots have seen since they played Green Bay in Zappe’s debut.
All-pro defensive back Eddie Jackson already has three interceptions and a pair of forced fumbled. Linebacker Roquan Smith is one of the league’s most productive passers.
All of this comes within the context of Monday Night Football and what could possibly be an historic night as Bill Belichick attempts to pass legendary Bears coach George Halas for second on the NFL’s all time coaching wins list.
Follow along here for updates and analysis.
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