Drake Maye Leads Patched-Up Patriots Line Into Bears TNF

Drake Maye is the hottest quarterback in New England right now, and tonight he takes that streak into Soldier Field behind an offensive line held together with tape. The Patriots (4-2) visit the Bears (4-2) on Thursday Night Football at 5:15 PM PT on Prime Video, and the final injury report tells you exactly what Maye is up against.

New England ruled out both starting guards, Alijah Vera-Tucker (hamstring) and Ben Brown (knee), coach Mike Vrabel told reporters, and listed right tackle Morgan Moses as questionable with a foot injury after he was limited all week. Maye himself was a full participant every day, per the team's injury report.

Who is blocking for Drake Maye tonight

Vrabel said Walter Rouse, acquired from the Vikings in an August trade, will make the first start of his NFL career at left guard. Matt Pryor, signed off Arizona's practice squad on Oct. 1, starts at right guard. Pryor has 40 career starts, including 15 for the Bears in 2024. Vera-Tucker had played every snap at left guard this season before he got hurt against the Jets, and Brown was already the third right guard to start after Mike Onwenu and Greg Van Roten landed on injured reserve.

If Moses can't go, first-round pick Caleb Lomu, who played 59 snaps at right tackle when Moses left Sunday's game, would be the next man up, according to Patriots.com. Pats fans will be watching the guards on every dropback tonight.

The good news: Maye was not sacked once in the 26-19 win over the Jets, the first time all season New England kept him clean. "I feel like it's been every week somebody stepping up," Maye said, crediting the line.

Maye is cooking right now

Maye has completed 64.1% of his passes for 878 yards and 10 touchdowns with one interception during New England's three-game winning streak. One more three-touchdown night would make him the first Patriots quarterback since Tom Brady in 2014 to throw at least three TD passes in four straight games.

The Bears know what is coming. "It's a dangerous combination of a guy that's an elite deep-ball thrower along with he can crush you with his legs," Chicago coach Ben Johnson said. Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick two spots ahead of Maye in 2024, put it simply: "We've got to be able to bottle him up."

Caleb Williams on the other side

Williams is coming off a 30-for-36, 305-yard day in his return from a hamstring injury, a 31-23 win in Atlanta. The Bears will be without running back Kyle Monangai (toe, thumb) for a third straight game. The Bears are 3-point favorites, per the AP. Bears fans get a prime time measuring stick for their franchise quarterback, and Pats fans get the same.

A.J. Brown is off the injury report and good to go after a three-catch, three-drop return last week, which gives Maye his top target at full health.

Smacktok pick: lean higher on Maye's passing touchdowns tonight. He has thrown at least three in each of his last three games, practiced fully all week, and gets a healthy A.J. Brown back on the field.