This week’s Thursday Evening Soccer victory for the Chicago Bears over the New England Patriots will go down as one of many workforce’s signature victories of 2026.
The reigning AFC champions got here into Soldier Area on a brief week and with a protracted checklist of accidents. The Bears, although, have been additionally no strangers to the damage report, lacking key contributors equivalent to RB Kyle Monangai, DE Dayo Odeyingbo, in addition to LB Jack Sanborn and unique beginning LT Braxton Jones, amongst others (S Coby Bryant has but to play this season). Plus, DE Montez Sweat was out for the ultimate recreation of his two-game suspension.
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After which there’s QB Caleb Williams, who returned on Sunday from a hamstring damage that he can nonetheless be seen favoring at instances should you look shut sufficient. However that did not cease the workforce from successful the sport from bell to bell, and though issues tightened up on the finish, the Bears confirmed as soon as once more that they know the way to play with a lead. That is a diversion from final yr, when the workforce’s calling card was coming from behind to win video games.
Let’s get to this week’s recreation balls.
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Offense Sport Ball: WR Luther Burden III
This award might go to Caleb Williams just about each week, and this week was no exception. Williams was terrific as soon as once more, however we will look to WR Luther Burden III who had his finest recreation of the younger season.
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Burden was the workforce’s key goal within the first half, and he scored the Bears’ second landing of the sport when he acquired a brief go from Williams that he broke right into a 24 yard landing reception. That landing made the rating 20-7 with 14 seconds left within the first half.
Along with his landing within the second quarter, Burden additionally had a 58 yard reception late within the first quarter that was almost a landing.
Burden ended the evening with 4 catches for 130 yards, one landing, and one run for seven yards.
Protection Sport Ball: LB D’Marco Jackson
Jackson continues to be a heck of a discover for the Bears, who claimed the previous New Orleans Saint final yr off of waivers and noticed him work his means up the depth chart resulting from accidents, elevating his recreation within the course of. He is change into one of many workforce’s most reliable gamers on protection.
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Jackson picked off QB Drake Maye in the long run zone, stopping a possible Patriots scoring drive that would have ended up swinging the sport. With a landing and profitable further level on that drive, the Patriots would have gone up 14-13. It was Maye’s first interception in three weeks.
Jackson is signed with the Bears by the 2027 season, however the workforce may need to begin fascinated about an extension.
Particular Groups Sport Ball: Ok Cairo Santos
I went backwards and forwards on this one slightly bit. Santos made a clutch 58 yard area aim (his profession lengthy) to ice the sport towards the tip of the fourth quarter, however the purpose the workforce badly wanted these factors was as a result of Santos had missed a 53 yarder only a few minutes earlier within the fourth quarter.
Ultimately, I felt Santos was deserving resulting from the truth that his prior miss would have brought on a lesser participant to shrink below the stress.
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However Santos needed the stress. In reality, he appeared to relish it. Santos advised Bears particular groups coach Richard Hightower he was able to kick the sphere aim, and head coach Ben Johnson trusted his man.
Proper down the center. By no means a doubt.
Who would have acquired your recreation balls? Tell us within the feedback part beneath.
