A meeting with the host Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon will carry more meaning than the typical regular-season game for New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye, selected third overall in this year’s draft, is set to go up against No. 1 overall pick and fellow signal-caller Caleb Williams in a battle of friends turned foes. The two became familiar with each other before breaking into the NFL, but Maye will try to treat Sunday like business as usual.
“I think both as rookies, coming out as quarterbacks, you spend a lot of time with those guys. You see them, some on visits, some at the combine. Really, with Caleb, I’ve seen him since high school,” Maye said. “We kept up with each other in college. We were friends, and I enjoyed watching him do his thing.
“Now I get a chance to compete. So anytime you’re going against a rookie quarterback in the same class, or any quarterback in your class in general, it’s a little extra.”
Both quarterbacks have already had to face their fair share of adversity, with Maye owning a 1-3 record as a starter while Williams is 4-4.
Most of the trouble that Williams and the Bears (4-4) have run into came over the past two games. Chicago was blown out 29-9 by the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday after falling 18-15 to the Washington Commanders on Oct. 27.
A third straight loss wouldn’t sit right with Bears coach Matt Eberflus.
“Whenever you lose two in a row in the NFL, there’s always a heightened sense of urgency because you have to get that win column back,” Eberflus said. “That was no different than early in the year when we lost a couple in a row. It’s really the same. We have to find answers and find solutions to where we are right now.
“We move in the right direction for three weeks, and then the last couple, we have to make sure we find answers right now moving into this week.”
New England (2-7) nearly pulled off a miracle last Sunday, forcing overtime against the Tennessee Titans when Maye escaped multiple defenders to lob a game-tying 5-yard touchdown pass to Rhamondre Stevenson on the final play of regulation. The extra point made it 17-17.
However, Nick Folk booted a 25-yard field goal to put Tennessee in front in the extra session, then Maye threw a game-ending pick three plays later.
It was the third turnover of the contest for Maye, who knows that he has to be sharper against Chicago.
“I think the Bears’ defense, they’re always going to be a physical defense,” Maye said. “They’re good up front. They have some good edge guys. I feel like every D-line has got some good guys on the edge. They’re going to go after the football; we’re preaching ball security.”
The Patriots will be without safety Kyle Dugger (ankle) and linebacker Christian Elliss (abdomen) on Sunday. Defensive tackles Daniel Ekuale (abdomen) and Jaquelin Roy (neck), tackle Vederian Lowe (shoulder), safety Marte Mapu (neck), guard Layden Robinson (ankle), cornerback Alex Austin (ankle) and offensive lineman Mike Jordan (ankle) were all considered questionable as of Friday.
The Bears ruled out safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion) plus offensive tackles Kiran Amegadjie (calf), Braxton Jones (knee) and Darnell Wright (knee). Linebacker Noah Sewell (knee), defensive end Darrell Taylor (knee) and offensive tackle Ryan Bates (shoulder) were listed as questionable.
