The New England Patriots suffered a brutal 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 7. While the Patriots stayed within reach at Soldier Field, against one of the top Super Bowl contenders in the NFC, mind you, the loss ended their three-game winning streak and exposed issues on both sides of the ball. Chicago controlled most of the game, running 66 plays to New England's 50, and Caleb Williams ultimately outplayed Drake Maye when it mattered most.
Maye still finished an efficient 24 of 31 passing for 321 yards and two touchdowns, along with 26 rushing yards and a rushing score. But it wasn't enough as the Bears hung on late to steal the win. That wasn't the only bad news out of New England, though.
The NFL also fined Patriots linebacker Gabe Jacas $8,744 for a late hit on Williams during the game. The incident happened in the second quarter, when Williams completed a 22-yard pass to Bears receiver Luther Burden. Jacas arrived well late and made contact with Williams after he'd already released the ball.
Officials immediately threw a flag for roughing the passer, adding 15 yards to the play and helping Chicago extend its drive. The Bears went on to score a touchdown, extending their lead to 20-7. More news: NFL to Review New Allegations Against Packers Star Josh Jacobs Jacas is a 22-year-old linebacker and edge defender out of Illinois, whom New England selected 55th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
He's appeared in all seven games, recording 21 total tackles (10 solo), three tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, one pass breakup, and 1.5 sacks. He also looked good against Chicago's stout offensive line, generating five pressures, even if the late hit did become the more costly part of his night. The $8,744 fine is notable for a player like Jacas since he's still on his rookie contract.
His 2026 base salary is around $885,000, making the fine a much more significant loss for the young defender. More news: Giants’ Cam Skattebo Hit With Costly Punishment After Texans Game More news: Jonathan Taylor Trade Talks Heat Up as Colts Change Their Stance New England now finds itself 4-3 after the loss to Chicago, which puts them in second place in the AFC East and eighth in the AFC, just outside of the playoff picture. Their upcoming schedule will therefore be critical to get things back on track.
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