The Patriots missed 16 tackles in Thursday's 30-24 loss to the Bears, double their total from the win over the Jets a week earlier. Pats Pulpit notes it's their most since the Super Bowl LX loss to Seattle, and Mike Vrabel said the tackling 'wasn't good enough.'
Summary written by Readthrough from the original article. The full story, with photos and any updates, is at Pats Pulpit.
The Patriots fell 30-24 to the Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday Night Football, with Chicago running 16 more plays (66-50) and the Bears forcing 16 missed tackles. Drake Maye was mostly sharp behind a short-handed line, but a red-zone interception followed by an 80-yard Bears touchdown drive in the second quarter was a key swing for an injury-depleted New England team.
The Patriots' official game notes from the 30-24 loss in Chicago: Rhamondre Stevenson had a career-high 93 receiving yards on seven catches, the most by a Patriots running back since James White in 2019. Drake Maye threw for more than 300 yards with two 30-plus-yard touchdown passes, and Christian Elliss tied his career high with 13 tackles.
Mike Vrabel said after the 30-24 loss in Chicago that the tackling "wasn't good enough" against Bears playmakers like D'Andre Swift and Luther Burden III, though he liked how his team competed. He called the margin thin against good teams, pointed to red-zone stops and the one missed red-zone chance as the difference, and wouldn't blame injuries in the secondary.
Episode 4 of the Patriots' behind-the-scenes series Forged in Foxborough looks at how the team responded to early-season adversity, including its breakthrough in Buffalo. It also marks 25 years since the Super Bowl XXXVI team that started the dynasty.
