CHICAGO URBAN DAILY
CHICAGO (CHICAGO URBAN DAILY)— Thursday night belongs to Chicago. The Bears are home at Soldier Field, and the New England Patriots are rolling into town for a Week 7 heavyweight bout under the lights.
Kickoff is 8:15 p.m. Eastern — that’s 7:15 p.m. Chicago time — with the game on Amazon Prime Video nationally and FOX 32 carrying it here in the Chicago market. Al Michaels has the play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit is on analysis, and Kaylee Hartung reports from the sideline.
This one has storylines for days. Caleb Williams just returned from a hamstring injury that kept him out three games and got the Bears back in the win column against Atlanta. Across the field, Drake Maye is playing like an MVP candidate, with the Patriots winners of three straight after upsetting Buffalo and handling the Jets and Raiders.
It’s the second meeting of the first and third overall picks of the 2024 draft — and the last time they met, as rookies, Maye’s Patriots ground out a forgettable 19-3 win. Williams will be out to return the favor.
And there’s heart in this one too: it’s the Bears’ first game at Soldier Field since the franchise — and the city — lost Mike Ditka, the legendary coach of the famed ’85 team, earlier this month. Expect the tributes, and expect a team playing for more than a win.
The Patriots will be shorthanded up front, with linemen Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown ruled out and cornerback Carlton Davis III sidelined again. If Chicago’s pass rush eats early, this could turn into a night the lakefront remembers.
Stay tuned to Chicago Urban Daily for the fallout.
Reported by Chicago Urban Daily News. Visit chicagourbandailynews.com for updates.
