The drama expected when Chicago at New England was announced as a Monday Night Football tilt centered around it being a matchup of 2021 first-round quarterbacks Justin Fields (selected 11th overall by the Bears) and Mac Jones (taken 15th overall by New England).
At the time, there was much ado over the Bears trading up to take Fields from Ohio State, while the Patriots allowed Jones to “fall” to them at 15. A common narrative that emerged was, “Chicago really must have wanted Fields to go and get him, but did New England really love Jones if they stayed pat and he fell in their lap?”
Well, as we’ve seen, there’s a whole lot more to quarterback success than their skills and talents, as Fields, a gifted athlete, has struggled to find success since landing in the Windy City on a Bears team in major transition, whereas Jones guided the Patriots, retooling themselves, to the playoffs in his first season.
Year Two of the Fields and Jones Eras, respectively, got off to rockier starts than expected. Chicago has trouble scoring, with a porous offensive line and a lack of elite talent forcing Fields to run for his life, and first downs, more often than one imagines the team and first-year coach Matt Eberflus would like.
Jones, meanwhile, stalled out of the gate, failing to top 17 points in the team’s first two games under a new offensive play-calling system (we’re still not exactly sure who designs what and who calls it when). By the time a more aggressive passing attack got in gear vs. Baltimore in Week 3, turnovers and an unfortunate ankle injury followed, setting Jones back in a number of ways.
When rookie fourth-rounder Bailey Zappe took over vs. Green Bay, following an injury to backup QB Brian Hoyer, an overnight sensation and local legend was born. “Zappe Fever” swept through New England and Pats Nation as Zappe went toe-to-toe with Aaron Rodgers, then guided the team confidently to big wins over Detroit and Cleveland. Zappe’s play, and the way the team responded around him, injected life into the fans and season. Thus the drama now surrounding this game has become who’s starting for the Pats Monday night?
Well, the new dramatic narrative seems to have reached its fever pitch and “Zappe Hour” might be over, for now, as all signs point to Mac Jones getting the start vs Chicago. The rehabilitation of Mac’s ankle seems to be on or ahead of schedule, and he seems good to go for his first action in October. So, now it seems we’re back to what we thought this game would be about.
Yet the eyes that will be on Jones now won’t be fixed to compare him to Fields, rather against the guy backing him up, with whom local and national media have been so smitten. A strong game from Mac and all doubt about his health or whether Zape should be under center will be allayed and dismissed. Should Jones struggle, then the conversation of Mac vs. Zappe could be rekindled at tailgates and on talk radio. Reality is the combination of an improving Patriots team against a Bears squad with an anemic offense and poor run defense should put Jones in line for a soft landing and successful return.
But don’t just trust us. Take it from the experts, who are almost unanimous in agreement that the Patriots, favored by eight over da Bears, the same Bears Belichick gave a seven-minute love letter to last Wednesday, should easily get da win.
ESPN went eight for eight in picking New England for their Monday night broadcast.
All six writers at Bleacher Report picked the Pats.
The Sporting News made New England over Chicago their LOCK OF THE WEEK.
Seven of eight at CBS Sports like the Pats with the spread.
Everyone at SI’s MMQB picked the Pats (good to see Albert Breer’s pick didn't go sideways on him).
Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com calls for a Pats win and cover.
Going against the popular grain, the NY Times likes the Bears getting eight…but the Pats to win.
The 538 computer machine gives the Pats a 78% chance to win.
Pro Football Talk is all over the Pats being all over the Bears.
The Boston Globe goes six for six on the Patriots.
Heck, even all six sports writers at the Chicago Sun-Times pick the Pats!
Our prediction? The Mac Attack is back with a vengeance! Or at least a quality effort in his return to action, a game that reminds everyone who doubted Jones’ ability to be an above average QB that he is in fact the right man for the job in Foxboro. A nice balance of running, play-action passing and opportunistic defense gets the job done. Close early but the Pats pull away late: New England 30, Chicago 13.
Whatever the score, whoever takes the snaps for the Pats, be sure to tune in to The Six Rings Postgame Show on 93.7 FM WEEI immediately following the conclusion of Bears at Pats to discuss who played well and how the game went.
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