The New England Patriots were on a short week with a banged-up football team and nearly still pulled off an upset win on the road against the Chicago Bears.
It was a stinging loss for a team that had every opportunity to quiet the naysayers who had hastened their crowning of Caleb Williams and Bears coach Ben Johnson. At the end of the night, the Patriots simply didn't play well enough to beat another great young quarterback and head coach in their house.
There were far too many penalties, missed tackles and too much time of possession for the Bears in the matchup. Maye also had a costly turnover in the first half that came back to haunt the team late in the 30-24 loss.
With that said, there are some positives to take away for a Patriots team that was
shorthanded for a Thursday night game. They fought valiantly at Soldier Field and might have come away with a win if one more thing went there way.
Here are the studs and duds from the Week 7 game:
DUD: RB TreVeyon Henderson
The pass protection from Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson moonwalked back to his rookie season on Thursday night. Couple that with his inability to find daylight on the ground, and it creates real reasons for concern moving forward.
Perhaps he's still dealing with the ankle injury that he suffered in Week 5, and it's hampering his ability to be impactful. He finished the game with only three carries for nine yards and two catches for 14 yards
STUD: QB Drake Maye
Aside from a costly interception in the second quarter, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye gave his team every opportunity to come away with a victory in a tough environment. He went 24-of-31 passing for 321 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while also registering 26 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground. Keep in mind that Maye was playing behind a makeshift offensive line with two new starters, while also missing veteran wide receiver Romeo Doubs.
DUD: LB Christian Elliss
This was a rough night for Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss. He was in the area when Bears receiver Luther Burden III got sprung free for a wide-open 58-yard reception across the middle of the field. The veteran also completely whiffed while running free on a potential game-changing sack late in the fourth quarter that would have pinned Bears quarterback Caleb Williams near the end zone.
STUD: RB Rhamondre Stevenson
It's crazy to think that some wondered if Henderson would ultimately replace Rhamondre Stevenson as the No. 1 back. Things change quickly in the NFL, but Stevenson has remained the same dependable do-everything running back. He only rushed for 22 yards on the ground, but he led the team through the air with five catches for 93 yards and one touchdown.
DUD: Defensive missed tackles
The entire Patriots defense has to wear the hat for all of the missed tackles in Thursday's game. It was a poor performance from a unit that looked gassed on a short week. The Bears deserve a ton of credit for how well they played on offense, but this was also a disappointing showing from a unit that has typically been a strength for the Patriots. Coach Mike Vrabel is going to have a field day in the film room pointing out the bad tackling and angles in this game.
STUD: TE Hunter Henry
With A.J. Brown generating the most attention on the field, Patriots tight end Hunter Henry stepped up as Maye's go-to target with a team-high seven catches for 71 yards. Henry has come on strong after a sluggish start to the season. His ability to make plays as an extra receiver bailed the offense out of multiple situations where Maye was under a lot of pressure in the pocket.
STUD: TE Eli Raridon
Henry wasn't alone.
Eli Raridon has been an impressive addition to the offense as a rookie tight end. His ability to win matchups downfield with his speed and athleticism has made him another viable offensive weapon for the Patriots. He hauled in three catches for 56 yards against the Bears, including a 30-yard touchdown reception.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Studs and duds for Patriots in heartbreaking primetime loss to Bears
