The New England Patriots enter Week 7 on a three-game win streak. Next up: a tough Thursday night game against the Chicago Bears.

Both teams enter the matchup with 4-2 records. Chicago has won three of its last four games despite missing star quarterback Caleb Williams (hamstring) for three weeks. The 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick returned in the team's Week 6 win over the Atlanta Falcons, completing 30 of his 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown.

It'll be a fun showdown between two of the premier QBs from the 2024 draft class. Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick, has been on fire lately with 11 TDs (one rushing) and only one interception in his last three games. He tallied three TD passes in Sunday's win over the New York Jets.

The fun QB matchup is just one of many noteworthy storylines heading into Thursday Night Football. Check out our Pats-Bears Week 7 preview and prediction below:

Recent head-to-head matchups

The Patriots and Bears don't meet up often. They've faced off only 17 times since their first matchup in 1973, with New England winning 11 of those games.

The Pats have won six of their eight matchups against the Bears since the turn of the millennium, including a victory in their most recent meeting in 2024.

• Week 10, 2024 at Chicago: 19-3 Patriots
• Week 7, 2022 at New England: 33-14 Bears
• Week 7, 2018 at Chicago: 38-31 Patriots

Key Stats

Controlling the clock

The Bears' biggest strength is their run game, which has helped them dominate the time of possession battle in their wins this season.

Chicago enters Week 7 averaging only 50.2 defensive snaps per game, the lowest figure any NFL team has finished with since at least 2000. It had the ball for 40 minutes in its Week 6 victory over Atlanta.

"Offensively, they extend drives. They run the football," Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said on Monday. "They've been without Caleb for a couple weeks, but certainly you can see the impact that he makes. Their runners or anybody that touches the ball is going to be a physical player, is going to be a tough tackle. We'll have to be great tacklers and do something to try to change the fact that their offense is out there for 73 snaps and their defense is out there for 50."

The Bears lead the league with 160.7 rushing yards per game. The D'Andre Swift/Kyle Monangai combo at running back has been lethal, and Williams is also capable of doing damage via the ground.

New England might catch a break with Monangai (turf toe) expected to miss Thursday's game, but third-stringer Roschon Johnson filled in admirably in his absence last week. No matter who is out there, the Patriots must prioritize stopping the run.

"It'll be a huge key," Vrabel said on Tuesday. "They're well-coached. It's a good scheme. I think the backs run hard, and the receivers…when you can run the football, the receivers have to be a big factor in that, and they are. They block with force. We're going to have to do a great job. That'll be an emphasis. Obviously, there's a lot more to what they do than just run the football."

Giving it away

The Patriots rank 30th in the NFL with a -6 turnover margin. They have the second-most giveaways (13), behind only the winless Los Angeles Chargers.

After losing two fumbles in Sunday's 26-19 win over the New York Jets, Vrabel made his feelings on his team's turnover troubles abundantly clear.

"We turn the ball over at a historic rate, and it’s ridiculous," Vrabel said on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show. "It’s an embarrassment."

Protecting the football will be an obvious focal point for both sides, as Chicago is right behind New England with 11 giveaways this year.

Patriots' key to victory

Get A.J. Brown going

To call A.J. Brown's return from injured reserve last Sunday vs. the Jets a disappointment would be a massive understatement. The prized offseason addition caught only three of his 10 targets for 27 yards and dropped three passes -- a career high and the most drops ever in a game by a Patriot. He also muffed an onside kick, which thankfully still ended up in New England's possession.

"I didn't play well," Brown said after the game. "I don't know – if the timing was off. I'm much better than what I put on display today, there's no excuses. I'll be better."

The Patriots sure hope so, because they'll be without No. 2 wideout Romeo Doubs for the foreseeable future after he went down with a shoulder injury on Sunday. It'll be crucial for Brown to step up as a true No. 1, especially against a Bears defense that has been stingy against the run but susceptible to the deep ball.

After Brown, the Pats' current pass-catching group consists of Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism. Plenty will be put on the ex-Philadelphia Eagle's shoulders going forward with Doubs out.

Bears' key to victory

Capitalize on Pats' depleted offensive line

The Patriots lost three linemen -- right tackle Morgan Moses and guards Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown -- to injury on Sunday. They already were without guard Mike Onwenu and his replacement, Greg Van Roten.

Backups Caleb Lomu, Walter Rouse, and Matt Pryor stepped up and played well down the stretch vs. New York, and it'll be "next man up" along the o-line again on Thursday. Vrabel stated that Vera-Tucker and Brown won't play vs. Chicago, though Moses has a chance to suit up. Rouse and Pryor will start at left and right guard, respectively.

Chicago must take advantage of New England's offensive line situation and consistently pressure Drake Maye. It'll be tougher with star edge rusher Montez Sweat (suspension) sidelined, but Austin Booker has emerged as a legitimate threat with four sacks and five tackles for loss despite limited snaps this season.

Prediction

All signs point toward a close game. The Patriots and Bears have similar numbers across the board through six weeks.

Given that the Bears thrive on running the ball and controlling the clock, and the Patriots somewhat struggled to defend the run last week vs. the Jets, we're inclined to give a slight edge to Chicago. The injury bug isn't helping New England's cause, either.

With seemingly an even matchup on both sides of the ball, it could ultimately come down to who wins the turnover battle. The Bears have been better in that department, but not by much.

Expect a close, fun, back-and-forth showdown at Soldier Field. The Patriots will make one too many mistakes, resulting in their third loss of the season.

Score: 27-24 Bears