New England Patriots @ Chicago Bears Prediction & Preview

The Pats are heading to Chicago for a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Bears, with both teams sitting at 4-2 and looking to keep their strong starts to the 2026 season rolling.

Mike Vrabel’s team has won three straight games and will be looking to make it four in a row against a Bears team that has also put together an impressive start. There is plenty to like about this matchup, from Drake Maye’s recent touchdown streak to a Chicago rushing attack that ranks among the NFL’s best.

With the Patriots aiming to continue their winning run, here is everything you need to know ahead of Thursday night’s game.

When and where

The Patriots travel to Chicago to face the Bears on Thursday Night Football in Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season.

The game will take place at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, with kickoff scheduled for Thursday night. The matchup will be broadcast nationally on Prime Video, with WCVB Channel 5 carrying the game in the Boston area.

It is the fourth time in franchise history that the Pats will play two Thursday games in the same season, and the first time since 2022. New England also has a Thursday night home matchup against the Minnesota Vikings scheduled for December 10.

The Patriots have historically enjoyed Thursday football, entering this matchup with a 15-8 record on Thursdays. They will be hoping to add another win to that impressive mark.

Both teams enter the game at 4-2, making this an important early-season test. The Patriots have won three consecutive games, including last week's victory over the New York Jets, while Chicago will provide a difficult challenge on both sides of the ball.

Previous meetings and all-time record

The Patriots have generally had the upper hand in this series, particularly during the regular season. New England holds an 11-4 regular-season record against Chicago, giving the Pats a .733 winning percentage against the Bears. That is their best regular-season winning percentage against any NFC opponent.

Including the postseason, this will be the 17th meeting between the two franchises, with Super Bowl XX accounting for their only previous playoff encounter.

Unfortunately for Patriots fans, that Super Bowl meeting remains a painful memory. Chicago dominated the 1985 Patriots, winning 46-10 to claim the championship. The Bears therefore hold the bragging rights from their only postseason matchup, but New England has had considerably more success in the years since.

The Pats have won nine of the 11 meetings since Super Bowl XX, including four consecutive games in Chicago. Their most recent encounter came in November 2024, when New England produced a dominant 19-3 road victory.

That performance was particularly memorable for the Patriots' defense, which recorded nine sacks, tied for the second-most in a single game in franchise history. Chicago managed just 142 total yards and converted only one of its 14 third-down attempts. It was a statement performance from a defense that completely shut down the Bears' offense.

However, Patriots fans should not forget the most recent meeting before that victory. Chicago came to Foxborough in October 2022 and handed New England a convincing 33-14 defeat on Monday Night Football. The Bears showed they can cause problems for the Pats under the primetime lights, even if the overall series history favours New England.

Another memorable meeting came in 2002, when the Bears were playing their home games at the University of Illinois while Soldier Field underwent renovations. The Patriots trailed 27-6 late in the third quarter before producing a remarkable comeback to win 33-30. Tom Brady connected with David Patten for a 20-yard touchdown with just 21 seconds remaining to complete one of the more memorable victories of that era.

History is certainly on New England's side, but this year's Bears team presents a fresh challenge. Chicago enters the contest ranked first in the NFL in rushing offense, averaging 160.7 yards per game. The Patriots' run defense has been solid, allowing 91.8 rushing yards per game, so that battle could be one of the biggest factors in deciding Thursday night's outcome.

Predictions and favourites

This is a fascinating matchup between two 4-2 teams, and the numbers suggest there is little separating them defensively. The Patriots are allowing 300.8 total yards per game, sixth-best in the league, while Chicago is allowing 302.3 yards, ranking seventh.

New England has the advantage through the air, averaging 243.5 passing yards per game compared with Chicago's 227.7. The Bears, however, have been much stronger on the ground, ranking first in rushing offense at 160.7 yards per game. The Patriots will need to limit that production and force Chicago into uncomfortable passing situations.

The turnover battle is another major concern for the Pats. New England enters the game with a minus-six turnover differential, while Chicago sits at minus-two. The Patriots cannot afford to give the Bears extra possessions, particularly on the road against a team capable of controlling the clock. Chicago averages 36 minutes and one second of possession per game, comfortably ahead of New England's 31 minutes and 17 seconds.

There are reasons for optimism, though, and Drake Maye is right at the top of that list. The young quarterback has thrown at least three touchdown passes in each of his last three games, recording three against Buffalo, four against Las Vegas and another three against the Jets. One more performance with three touchdown passes would make him the first Patriots quarterback since Tom Brady in 2014 to achieve that feat in four consecutive games.

Maye has also shown an ability to produce explosive plays. His 42-yard touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs against the Jets was his 10th touchdown pass of at least 30 yards over the last two seasons, the most in the NFL over that span. If he can connect with his receivers downfield again, the Patriots could find opportunities against a Bears defense allowing 211.8 passing yards per game.

The offensive line also deserves credit after keeping Maye clean against the Jets. Despite dealing with multiple combinations because of injuries, the unit did not allow a sack against a New York defense that entered the game tied for fourth in the NFL with 17 sacks. Repeating that performance against a Chicago defense that has recorded 17 sacks this season would give Maye a much better chance of continuing his hot streak.

On the other side of the ball, Elijah Ponder has emerged as a player to watch. He leads the Patriots with 5.5 sacks and has recorded at least half a sack in five consecutive games. If New England can generate consistent pressure, it could disrupt Chicago's offensive rhythm and prevent the Bears from relying on their ground game.

Hunter Henry is another player who could make a difference. The tight end is tied with Russ Francis on 28 career touchdown receptions, leaving him one score away from moving into sole possession of third place on the Patriots' all-time list for touchdowns by a tight end. A big night from Henry would give Maye another reliable option in the red zone.

Chicago's rushing attack and ability to control possession make this a dangerous road game, and the Bears have enough quality to take advantage if New England turns the ball over. The Patriots will need to be disciplined defensively and make the most of their opportunities when Maye and the offense have the football.

However, the Pats are riding a three-game winning streak, Maye is playing some of the best football of his young career, and the recent history between these teams strongly favours New England. The Patriots have also won their last four regular-season games in Chicago, which should give them confidence heading into Thursday night.

Prediction: Patriots 27, Bears 24.

Expect a competitive contest that could go down to the final possession. Chicago's ground game should keep the pressure on New England, but if Maye continues his touchdown streak and the Patriots avoid costly turnovers, there is every reason to believe Vrabel's team can leave Chicago with a fourth consecutive win.