Bears-Patriots 'TNF' takeaways: Caleb Williams outduels Drake Maye

In a game billed as a battle of young star quarterbacks, Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears outdueled Drake Maye and the New England Patriots on "Thursday Night Football."

But while the Bears led throughout most of the night, including jumping out to a 10-0 lead after the first quarter, the Patriots did fight back and make it close in the end. However, Chicago was able to hang on for the 30-24 win, even though A.J. Brown, who was questionable with an ankle injury all week, did end up playing. Brown caught just three passes for 48 yards, though he was targeted six times. 

Key takeaway: Drake Maye has to regain 2025 form for New England to be a serious contender 

Although Maye finished the night having completed 24-of-31 passes for 321 yards with two touchdown passes, the throws he missed and the one big mistake he made cost his team in the end. 

Because one key difference that led to the outcome was Williams played a cleaner game than Maye. Last season's MVP runner-up, Maye threw a costly interception to linebacker D'Marco Jackson in the end zone, squandering a scoring opportunity in the second quarter. Add that touchdown for New England and everything that happened, most notably the result, would've likely been different.