Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots: Complete Week 8 Preview for Chicago
Published by Matt Eurich on October 23, 2014
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Following a disappointing 27-14 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 7, the Chicago Bears will try to rebound this week when they head to New England to take on the 5-2 Patriots.
The Bears and Patriots have met just 12 times, with New England holding an 8-4 all-time record. Chicago last beat New England in 2000 and has lost the last three meetings, including a 36-7 loss back in 2010. New England’s Tom Brady threw for 369 yards and two touchdowns that afternoon, while Chicago’s Jay Cutler threw for 152 yards and two interceptions.
The Patriots are coming off a 27-25 victory on Thursday Night Football over the New York Jets. Brady threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns, but the Patriots had to rely on a blocked field-goal attempt at the end of the game to seal their victory.
Despite boasting one of the league’s best wide receiver duos in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, the Bears offense has struggled at times this season to get itself into a rhythm. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick still sees Chicago’s wide receiving duo and tight end Martellus Bennett as matchup nightmares.
“Their receivers are big, big catch radius, hard guys to cover, including the tight end,” he said, via Kevin Fishbain of ChicagoFootball.com. “Even when you’re on them, you still don’t really have them covered because of their length and their size, there’s places that the quarterback can put the ball that the defender can’t get it, even though he’s got relatively good coverage.”
With the Bears now 3-4 in the NFC North division behind the 5-2 Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, Sunday’s contest with the New England Patriots is as close to a must-win game as it gets this early in the NFL season.
Here is our Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots preview for Week 8.
