Patriots Struggling to Score, Bears Must Make Adjustments to Avoid Collapse
NFL Week 10 Preview: New England Patriots vs Chicago Bears – Offensive Struggles and Key Adjustments 
This Sunday, two teams with rookie quarterbacks will face off at Soldier Field when the New England Patriots (2-7, 3-5-1 ATS) travel to take on the Chicago Bears (4-4, 4-3-1 ATS) in a matchup that could have serious implications for both teams’ seasons. The game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. EST and will be a crucial contest for both franchises, who are currently in rebuilding phases. The last time these teams met in 2022, Chicago walked away with a decisive 33-14 road victory. This season, both teams have struggled to find consistency, particularly on offense, which could lead to a tightly contested battle.
New England Patriots: Offensive Struggles Continue to Haunt
The New England Patriots are battling through a challenging season, with an offense that has failed to produce consistent results. Averaging just 15.7 points per game—the 30th worst in the NFL—the Patriots’ offense has been anemic and incapable of generating significant plays. While rookie Drake Maye has shown flashes of potential, the lack of overall talent on the roster has been glaring. The Patriots’ passing game ranks dead last in the league, sitting at 32nd in passing yards per game, and they rank 31st in yards per pass attempt. Jacoby Brissett has also been under center for some stretches, but even with a change in quarterbacks, the results have been the same.
One of the major issues for New England is the offensive line, which has allowed the third-most sacks in the league. This pressure has hindered the Patriots’ ability to move the ball effectively, leaving the offense stuck in neutral and unable to capitalize on defensive stops. While New England ranks 14th in yards per carry on the ground, this does little to help when the team is consistently trailing in games. The Patriots’ inability to sustain drives or put points on the board has been a significant factor in their downfall this season.
Defensively, the Patriots have faced their own set of challenges. While it’s easy to point to the fact that the defense has spent a lot of time on the field due to the offense’s struggles, the truth is that New England’s defense has simply not been up to par. Allowing 24.1 points per game (ranked 19th in the league), the Patriots’ defense ranks 17th in yards per carry, 23rd in yards per pass attempt, and 26th in yards per play. Their pass rush has been non-existent, ranking 29th in sacks, and the team has only eight takeaways on the year, one of the lowest totals in the NFL. The Patriots have held opponents under 20 points in just two games, further underscoring their defensive struggles.
Chicago Bears: Time for Major Adjustments to Stay Competitive
The Chicago Bears are sitting at 4-4, but their play over the last few weeks has been far from reassuring. The team has dropped two straight games, including a heartbreaking Hail Mary loss and a 29-9 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals. However, they will return home this week, where they are undefeated on the season. The Bears’ defense, which ranks 5th in the NFL in points allowed (19.8 points per game), will need to step up again to keep them competitive, especially if the offense continues to struggle.
While the Bears’ defense has been solid against the pass—ranking 8th in passing yards allowed per game—they have struggled to stop the run, allowing 5.0 yards per carry, which ranks 27th in the league. Chicago has been a solid unit overall, with 23 sacks (11th) and 15 takeaways (tied 4th), but they must find a way to improve their run defense if they are to remain competitive. The good news is that their pass defense should be able to contain a Patriots’ offense that ranks among the worst in the league in passing.
Offensively, the Bears are still a work in progress. Despite having Caleb Williams, the rookie quarterback who was drafted first overall, under center, the team struggles to generate offense consistently. The Bears are averaging just 21.5 points per game, which is barely enough to keep them in games. Chicago ranks 30th in yards per play and 28th in total yards per game, highlighting the team’s inability to move the ball effectively. Their offensive line has been a major issue, allowing the 5th-most sacks in the NFL. On the ground, the Bears are also struggling, ranking 25th in yards per carry and 26th in yards per pass attempt.
One area of hope for the Bears’ offense, however, is their low turnover rate—they’ve committed just 8 turnovers, the 7th fewest in the league. This has allowed them to stay somewhat competitive, even with their offensive struggles. Can Chicago avoid turning the ball over in this matchup and capitalize on New England’s offensive inefficiencies? It might just be the key to securing a much-needed win.
Conclusion
Both the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears are teams searching for answers. The Patriots’ offensive struggles are well-documented, and unless they can find a spark, it’s going to be a long road ahead. The Bears have a much better defense, but their own offensive issues could prevent them from pulling away in this matchup. This game could come down to turnovers and which defense can force the other team into mistakes.
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