We're nearing the time to say goodbye to the 2024 NFL Mock Drafts. The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft officially kicks off at 8 pm ET on Thursday, which sparked a flurry of "final" mock drafts from many of the most well-known draft analysts in the industry, including NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, who went out with a bang for the Chicago Bears.
Jeremiah didn't pull any stunts with the first overall pick, he sent Caleb Williams (QB, USC) to Chicago at No. 1.
"The Bears have been locked in on Williams for some time," Jeremiah wrote. "They get their new face of the franchise."
OK, great. Nothing to see here.
As for the ninth pick? Buckle your chinstrap, Jeremiah goes off the rails (sort of). He has the Chicago Bears taking Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, a player who hasn't been mocked to the Bears (at all?) during the 2024 NFL draft cycle.
MORE: Pro Football Focus ranks Bears EXTREMELY high in pre-draft NFC Power Rankings
"I'm going with an OT here because GM Ryan Poles and assistant GM Ian Cunningham understand the importance of the offensive line, and I see Fashanu -- Williams" high school teammate, by the way -- as a massive upgrade over incumbent left tackle Braxton Jones," Jeremiah wrote.
Look, no one will argue with the Bears taking a franchise-caliber left tackle with their second first-round pick. Fashanu began the 2024 NFL draft process as a prospect who some draft analysts thought could go as high as No. 2 overall. He's suffered a bizarre slide down the top 10, and perhaps the Chicago Bears will view him as an incredible value with the ninth pick.
I just don't see any way the Bears will pass on Rome Odunze (WR, Washington), who Daniel Jeremiah has going to the New York Jets one pick later at No. 10 overall. Yes, Chicago should (and likely will) use the ninth pick to support Caleb Williams, and selecting an offensive tackle accomplishes that goal. But with Keenan Allen entering 2024 on an expiring contract (and an ever advancing age), pairing Odunze with Williams is critical to the former Heisman Trophy quarterback reaching his maximum upside.
For Daniel Jeremiah's complete mock draft, We're nearing the time to say goodbye to the 2024 NFL Mock Drafts. The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft officially kicks off at 8 pm ET on Thursday, which sparked a flurry of \"final\" mock drafts from many of the most well-known draft analysts in the industry, including NFL Network's \x3Ca href=\"https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-2024-nfl-mock-draft-4-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Daniel Jeremiah\x3C/a>, who went out with a bang for the Chicago Bears.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Jeremiah didn't pull any stunts with the first overall pick, he sent Caleb Williams (QB, USC) to Chicago at No. 1.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"The Bears have been locked in on Williams for some time,\" Jeremiah wrote. \"They get their new face of the franchise.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>OK, great. Nothing to see here.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>As for the ninth pick? Buckle your chinstrap, Jeremiah goes off the rails (sort of). He has the Chicago Bears taking Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, a player who hasn't been mocked to the Bears (at all?) during the 2024 NFL draft cycle.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ca href=\"https://bearstalk.com/2024/04/24/chicago-bears-nfc-power-rankings-pro-football-focus-2024-nfl-draft\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MORE: Pro Football Focus ranks Bears EXTREMELY high in pre-draft NFC Power Rankings\x3C/a>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"I'm going with an OT here because GM Ryan Poles and assistant GM Ian Cunningham understand the importance of the offensive line, and I see Fashanu -- Williams\" high school teammate, by the way -- as a massive upgrade over incumbent left tackle Braxton Jones,\" Jeremiah wrote.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Look, no one will argue with the Bears taking a franchise-caliber left tackle with their second first-round pick. Fashanu began the 2024 NFL draft process as a prospect who some draft analysts thought could go as high as No. 2 overall. He's suffered a bizarre slide down the top 10, and perhaps the Chicago Bears will view him as an incredible value with the ninth pick.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>I just don't see any way the Bears will pass on Rome Odunze (WR, Washington), who Daniel Jeremiah has going to the New York Jets one pick later at No. 10 overall. Yes, Chicago should (and likely will) use the ninth pick to support Caleb Williams, and selecting an offensive tackle accomplishes that goal. But with Keenan Allen entering 2024 on an expiring contract (and an ever advancing age), pairing Odunze with Williams is critical to the former Heisman Trophy quarterback reaching his maximum upside.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>For Daniel Jeremiah's complete mock draft, \x3Ca href='https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-2024-nfl-mock-draft-4-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here\x3C/a>.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>",excerpt:"NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah made a shocking pick for the Chicago Bears in the first round of his final 2024 NFL mock draft",featured_image_url:"/api/public/media/2025/07/Daniel-Jeremiah-original.jpg",photo_credit:"Getty Images",status:"published",created_at:"2026-06-23T13:24:34.381588+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[14]=["mock draft"],tags:$R[15]=["caleb-williams","chicago-bears","mock-draft","news","nfl","nfl-draft","olu-fashanu","rome-odunze"],meta_title:null,meta_description:null,og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:null,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1,linkedContent:"\x3Cp>We're nearing the time to say goodbye to the 2024 NFL Mock Drafts. The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft officially kicks off at 8 pm ET on Thursday, which sparked a flurry of \"final\" mock drafts from many of the most well-known draft analysts in the industry, including NFL Network's \x3Ca href=\"https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-2024-nfl-mock-draft-4-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Daniel Jeremiah\x3C/a>, who went out with a bang for the Chicago Bears.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Jeremiah didn't pull any stunts with the first overall pick, he sent \x3Ca href=\"/player/caleb-williams\" class=\"player-link\" data-player=\"caleb-williams\">Caleb Williams\x3C/a> (QB, USC) to Chicago at No. 1.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"The Bears have been locked in on Williams for some time,\" Jeremiah wrote. \"They get their new face of the franchise.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>OK, great. Nothing to see here.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>As for the ninth pick? Buckle your chinstrap, Jeremiah goes off the rails (sort of). He has the Chicago Bears taking Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, a player who hasn't been mocked to the Bears (at all?) during the 2024 NFL draft cycle.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ca href=\"https://bearstalk.com/2024/04/24/chicago-bears-nfc-power-rankings-pro-football-focus-2024-nfl-draft\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MORE: Pro Football Focus ranks Bears EXTREMELY high in pre-draft NFC Power Rankings\x3C/a>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"I'm going with an OT here because GM Ryan Poles and assistant GM Ian Cunningham understand the importance of the offensive line, and I see Fashanu -- Williams\" high school teammate, by the way -- as a massive upgrade over incumbent left tackle \x3Ca href=\"/player/braxton-jones\" class=\"player-link\" data-player=\"braxton-jones\">Braxton Jones\x3C/a>,\" Jeremiah wrote.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Look, no one will argue with the Bears taking a franchise-caliber left tackle with their second first-round pick. Fashanu began the 2024 NFL draft process as a prospect who some draft analysts thought could go as high as No. 2 overall. He's suffered a bizarre slide down the top 10, and perhaps the Chicago Bears will view him as an incredible value with the ninth pick.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>I just don't see any way the Bears will pass on \x3Ca href=\"/player/rome-odunze\" class=\"player-link\" data-player=\"rome-odunze\">Rome Odunze\x3C/a> (WR, Washington), who Daniel Jeremiah has going to the New York Jets one pick later at No. 10 overall. Yes, Chicago should (and likely will) use the ninth pick to support Caleb Williams, and selecting an offensive tackle accomplishes that goal. But with Keenan Allen entering 2024 on an expiring contract (and an ever advancing age), pairing Odunze with Williams is critical to the former Heisman Trophy quarterback reaching his maximum upside.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>For Daniel Jeremiah's complete mock draft, \x3Ca href='https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-2024-nfl-mock-draft-4-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here\x3C/a>.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>",related:$R[16]=[$R[17]={id:"5b976dbf-dfe3-4712-a382-5976f1e7f244",wp_post_id:100000000266,title:"7 stats that could decide Bears vs. Patriots on Thursday Night Football",slug:"bears-patriots-7-stats-week-7-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/10/22",published_at:"2026-10-22T19:42:21.594+00:00",updated_at:"2026-10-22T19:42:21.594+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears and New England Patriots enter Thursday night's showdown with identical 4-2 records, top-10 defenses and offenses capable of moving the football, led by quarterbacks selected with the first and third overall picks of the 2024 NFL draft.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But those similarities tell only part of the story.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Dig into the numbers, and you'll find fascinating matchups that could determine whether Chicago improves to 5-2 or watches New England leave Soldier Field with its fourth straight win.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"The Bears and Patriots are both 4-2 entering Thursday night. Here are seven revealing stats, including Chicago's NFL-best rushing attack and Drake Maye's touchdown streak.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1791207909849-p64sil.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MTIwNzkwOTg0OS1wNjRzaWwud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTEyMDc5MTAsImV4cCI6MjEwNjU2NzkxMH0.mJEVbG7p0TBRuld3UoXW76-HRUESblDVJ7UYGsU4-7U",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-10-22T19:26:17.366054+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[18]=[],tags:$R[19]=["Bears Stats","BearsTalk+","Ben Johnson","Caleb Williams","Chicago Bears","Dennis Allen","Drake Maye","New England Patriots","NFL Week 7","Thursday Night Football"],meta_title:"Bears vs. Patriots: 7 key stats for Thursday night",meta_description:"The 4-2 Chicago Bears host the 4-2 Patriots on Thursday Night Football. Here are 7 key stats, from Chicago's rushing attack to Drake Maye's touchdown streak.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:3,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"premium",is_featured:!0},$R[20]={id:"ab2a9f9b-ea30-4689-bb94-8b86d11a424b",wp_post_id:100000000265,title:"4 early 2027 NFL Draft prospects Bears fans should keep an eye on",slug:"bears-2027-nfl-draft-prospects-week-7",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/10/22",published_at:"2026-10-22T18:43:02.605+00:00",updated_at:"2026-10-22T18:43:02.605+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears are thinking about the playoffs, not the 2027 NFL draft. That's exactly how it should be for a team entering Week 7 at 4-2.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But the NFL Draft never stops being part of the conversation, especially for a roster that still has questions along the defensive line, at cornerback, and at left tackle.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Here are four 2027 prospects worth monitoring as Chicago's needs become clearer.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"The Bears are 4-2, but it's never too early to look ahead. Here are four 2027 NFL Draft prospects to watch, Chicago's draft position and roster needs.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787419255729-9dyeeq.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzQxOTI1NTcyOS05ZHllZXEud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc0MTkyNTYsImV4cCI6MjEwMjc3OTI1Nn0.NELmczb-XX9XXJPEKDQyaWOGwEjGD3wYi-lswa6sEkQ",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-10-22T18:23:44.726111+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[21]=["News"],tags:$R[22]=[],meta_title:"4 Chicago Bears 2027 NFL Draft targets worth monitoring",meta_description:"The Bears are 4-2, but it's never too early to look ahead. Here are four 2027 NFL Draft prospects to watch, Chicago's draft position and roster needs.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:3,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"premium",is_featured:!1},$R[23]={id:"41cbdafd-bfaa-42fc-a0a0-ddf7d8b0559e",wp_post_id:100000000264,title:"NFL experts reveal Bears vs. Patriots final score predictions for Thursday night",slug:"bears-patriots-week-7-expert-score-predictions",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/10/22",published_at:"2026-10-22T15:44:46.389+00:00",updated_at:"2026-10-22T15:44:46.389+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears can improve to 5-2 Thursday night when they host the New England Patriots at Soldier Field. And if the latest expert predictions are any indication, Bears fans have reason to feel optimistic.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Both teams enter Week 7 at 4-2, but Chicago has a few advantages that could make the difference, including home-field advantage and a Patriots offensive line dealing with significant injuries.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/Patriots/status/2112986154085536189?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/Patriots/status/2112986154085536189?s=20\">https://x.com/Patriots/status/2112986154085536189?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>Here's how several NFL analysts expect Thursday night's game to unfold.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears vs. Patriots expert score predictions\x3C/h2>\x3Ctable class=\"bt-table\" style=\"min-width: 50px;\">\x3Ccolgroup>\x3Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\x3Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\x3C/colgroup>\x3Ctbody>\x3Ctr>\x3Cth colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Expert\x3C/p>\x3C/th>\x3Cth colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Predicted final score\x3C/p>\x3C/th>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>John Breech, CBS Sports\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Bears 27, Patriots 20\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Mike Reiss, ESPN\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Bears 27, Patriots 24\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Patrick Finley, Chicago Sun-Times\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Bears 27, Patriots 21\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Jason Lieser, Chicago Sun-Times\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Bears 24, Patriots 23\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Pete Prisco, CBS Sports\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Patriots 28, Bears 27\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Paul Perillo, Patriots.com\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Bears 31, Patriots 27\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Evan Lazar, Patriots.com\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Patriots 33, Bears 30\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3C/tbody>\x3C/table>\x3Cp>Five of these seven analysts are picking Chicago, although most expect a competitive game.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Breech believes the Bears' pass rush can capitalize on injuries to New England's offensive line. Reiss also favors Chicago, citing the difficulty of playing a Thursday road game with a depleted o-line.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Prisco sees things differently. He's picking New England because he believes the Patriots have the stronger defense. That may be true on paper, but I wouldn't underestimate the upside of Dennis Allen's group now that Kyler Gordon is healthy.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Why the Bears could win\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>One reason: Caleb Williams.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Iceman is fresh off one of his best pro outings, completing 30 of 36 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown in the Bears' Week 6 win over the Falcons. He returns to Soldier Field in front of a home crowd that undoubtedly can't wait to see No. 18 work some magic. And magic he will make.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1792418498542-l3dk5j.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MjQxODQ5ODU0Mi1sM2RrNWoud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTI0MTg0OTcsImV4cCI6MjEwNzc3ODQ5N30.0Od1qndvBwC3IAOoAmLcHH4CzUqd5P2ExzAh9tjNCyo\" alt=\"Caleb Williams Bears Falcons\">\x3Cp>Williams will play smart football; he'll stay away from Christian Gonzalez, and he'll end Week 7 giving fans (and critics) another reason to view him as an inevitable MVP candidate.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Sure, the Bears defense could emerge as the bigger storyline Thursday night. Especially with the mash unit that is the Patriots' offensive line. But a game like this -- a quick turnaround time on the national stage -- usually comes down to the quarterback.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Give me Williams over Maye.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>BearsTalk final score prediction\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Bears 27, Patriots 24\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>I expect a competitive game, but Williams and Chicago's offensive weapons should make enough plays to secure another victory.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Patriots won't make it easy, but with injuries to New England's offensive line and the Bears playing at home, Chicago has a slight edge.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Going 5-2 with a mini-bye before facing the Seahawks in Week 8 would put the Bears in a great spot as the second half of the season inches closer.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"NFL experts weigh in on Bears vs. Patriots Thursday night, with most predicting a Chicago victory. See the final score picks and our prediction.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1792683650244-cpn17y.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MjY4MzY1MDI0NC1jcG4xN3kud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTI2ODM2NTEsImV4cCI6MjEwODA0MzY1MX0.SuzaXmHD1r3kEfHT6iLarsUcBuNmMTaFUSA_d2IU9is",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-10-22T15:24:52.664117+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[24]=["News"],tags:$R[25]=["Bears vs Patriots","Ben Johnson","Caleb Williams","Chicago Bears","Drake Maye","New England Patriots","NFL predictions","NFL Week 7","Thursday Night Football"],meta_title:"Bears vs. Patriots score predictions: Expert picks",meta_description:"NFL experts weigh in on Bears vs. Patriots Thursday night, with most predicting a Chicago victory. See the final score picks and our prediction.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[26]={id:"2e8b7992-2e26-43c1-b73b-bed4e414ad2f",wp_post_id:100000000263,title:"BTX rankings: The 10 highest-graded Bears through Week 6",slug:"bears-btx-rankings-top-10-week-6-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/10/22",published_at:"2026-10-22T13:32:53.699+00:00",updated_at:"2026-10-22T13:32:53.699+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears are 4-2 heading into Thursday night's matchup against the New England Patriots, and an interesting story is developing beneath their winning record.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The players leading the team in our BearsTalk BTX grades aren't necessarily the ones you'd expect.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Instead, a rookie safety leads the Bears, a running back who hasn't played since Week 4 remains among the NFL's best at his position, and a young edge rusher has quietly established himself as one of Chicago's most valuable defenders.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"The Chicago Bears are 4-2 entering Thursday night's matchup against the New England Patriots, and there's a pretty interesting story developing beneath their winning record. It's not necessarily the p",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1790697494801-flnqia.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MDY5NzQ5NDgwMS1mbG5xaWEud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTA2OTc0OTUsImV4cCI6MjEwNjA1NzQ5NX0.4Ykun5MB50x2pxeSyEcva-TWsXcEutGrlb0WguZ_CbE",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-10-22T13:11:47.681612+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[27]=["News"],tags:$R[28]=["2026 NFL season","Austin Booker","BearsTalk Analytics","BTX","Caleb Williams","Chicago Bears","D'Andre Swift","Devin Bush","Dillon Thieneman","Kalif Raymond","Kyle Monangai","Luther Burden III","Rome Odunze"],meta_title:"Chicago Bears BTX rankings: Top 10 players through Week 6",meta_description:"BearsTalk's BTX grades reveal the Chicago Bears' 10 best performers through Week 6, led by Dillon Thieneman, Kyle Monangai, and Austin Booker.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:5,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"premium",is_featured:!1},$R[29]={id:"91b13a57-b70f-478b-82bf-8d1af44a2678",wp_post_id:100000000262,title:"5 things the Bears must do to beat the Patriots on Thursday night",slug:"chicago-bears-patriots-week-7-keys-to-victory",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/10/21",published_at:"2026-10-21T16:13:46.621+00:00",updated_at:"2026-10-21T16:13:46.621+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears have an opportunity to make a statement Thursday night. Not because beating the New England Patriots would suddenly make them Super Bowl contenders, but because Caleb Williams beating Drake Maye in front of a national audience would confirm what Bears fans already know: this team is for real.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Both teams enter Week 7 at 4-2. The Bears are coming off a 31-23 victory over Atlanta in Williams' first game back from his hamstring injury, while New England has won three straight behind quarterback Drake Maye.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And with both teams playing on a short week, Thursday's game could come down to execution more than anything else.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"The Bears face the Patriots in a Week 7 primetime showdown. Here are five keys to victory, from containing Drake Maye to protecting Caleb Williams.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787783797930-3dzt39.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4Nzc4Mzc5NzkzMC0zZHp0Mzkud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc3ODM3OTgsImV4cCI6MjEwMzE0Mzc5OH0.MQsbC7auWEZc-wg7GrLElE9ThFr5pyBAEXo-Fa5sT5Q",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-10-21T15:50:28.521301+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[30]=["News"],tags:$R[31]=["Ben Johnson","Caleb Williams","Chicago Bears","Colston Loveland","Dennis Allen","Devin Bush","Drake Maye","Kyler Gordon","New England Patriots","NFL Week 7","Thursday Night Football"],meta_title:"5 things the Bears must do to beat Patriots Thursday night",meta_description:"The Bears face the Patriots in a Week 7 primetime showdown. Here are five keys to victory, from containing Drake Maye to protecting Caleb Williams.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:5,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"premium",is_featured:!1}],truncated:!1},ssr:!0}]})($R["tsr"])
