UP: LB Matthew Judon
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 24: Matthew Judon #9 of the New England Patriots sacks Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears during the first half at Gillette Stadium on October 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Arguably the only player that showed up. Two and a half sacks, three total QB hits, four total tackles, and a batted pass that led to an interception for the team’s overall MVP. But it’s impossible to win in the National Football League with one player, especially if that player is on defense.
DOWN: QB Mac Jones
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 24: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots reacts on the sideline during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium on October 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
It was an inauspicious return for Jones, to say the least. Jones was 3-of-6 for 13 yards and an interception, and got pulled after his third drive. Bill Belichick said Jones wasn’t benched for his performance and would’ve gone back into the game in the second half, but kept him out after the game got out of hand.
DOWN: OT Trent Brown
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 24: Bailey Zappe #4 of the New England Patriots reacts with Trent Brown #77 after throwing a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium on October 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Four penalties for Brown. Two holds, a false start, and a trip. Penalties weren’t much of an issue team-wide; this was basically isolated to Brown. But the left tackle can’t be setting his team back with mental errors, especially with the way it is right now.
DOWN: DT Daniel Ekuale
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 24: Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears rushes for a 3-yard touchdown during the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Ekuale missed the tackle on Justin Fields at the point of attack on a third-and-17 that Fields ran for a first down. Rookie Sam Roberts could get an “honorable” mention here, because they both got turned around on that play. The Patriots missed Christian Barmore in this game, and his two chief replacements on the depth chart weren’t quite up to the task.
DOWN: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 24: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts with Ja’Whaun Bentley #8 during the first half against the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium on October 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
When a defense looks so woefully unprepared, and gives up 243 rushing yards, you have to look at the middle linebacker with the green dot on his helmet. This loss is more on the coaches than the players, but Bentley is a team captain and the leader of the front-seven. He’s vulnerable in coverage and moving sideline-to-sideline, as are most of the Patriots’ defenders in the first two levels, and the Bears exploited that all night.
DOWN: P Jake Bailey
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 06: Jake Bailey #7 of the New England Patriots reacts after a bad punt during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 06, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Bailey had two punts under 40 yards. The Bears had an average starting point of their own 33-yard line and scored 17 points off Bailey’s punts. It’s been an up-and-down year at best for Bailey, who signed a four-year extension with the Patriots in the off-season.
Next Patriots Ups & Downs comes after they play the New York Jets in Week 8.
