Caleb Williams and Drake Maye bring contrasting passing trends into Bears-Patriots game
Chicago hosts New England on Thursday in a Week 7 matchup shaped by Williams’ efficient short passing and Maye’s improved deep throws during three straight wins.
Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears host Drake Maye and the New England Patriots at Soldier Field on Thursday, October 22, in a Week 7 game shaped by contrasting passing trends. ClutchPoints reports that Williams has completed passes at a league-leading rate this season, while Maye’s deep throws have improved during three straight wins.
How Drake Maye’s deep passing has changed
Maye threw 10 touchdown passes and one interception over New England’s last three games, all victories, ClutchPoints reported. On passes traveling at least 20 yards through the air, he completed 8 of 15 attempts for 279 yards and four touchdowns without an interception during that stretch.
That marked a change from his first three games of 2026. According to ClutchPoints, Maye completed four of 12 deep attempts for 160 yards and threw four interceptions over those weeks, when the Patriots opened 1-2. The later stretch gives Chicago a more productive downfield passing threat to defend.
Williams also singled out Maye’s mobility, saying Chicago had to keep him contained, according to an Associated Press report by Jay Cohen. Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said Maye can escape pressure, make defenders miss and create plays downfield.
Caleb Williams’ efficiency against New England
Williams’ passes averaged 5.8 air yards per attempt through six weeks, tied for the NFL’s lowest figure among qualified passers, according to Next Gen Stats figures cited by ClutchPoints. Just 4.4% of his attempts traveled at least 20 air yards, the lowest rate in the league, the outlet reported.
His completion rate stood at 72.5%, the league’s best at the time of ClutchPoints’ analysis. The outlet put his expected points added per dropback at plus-0.23, up from plus-0.05 last season. Williams has missed time with a hamstring injury, leaving a smaller early-season sample for those figures.
Intermediate throws offer another part of the matchup. ClutchPoints reported that New England had allowed 0.77 expected points added per pass on those throws, the league’s fifth-highest rate. That could give Williams openings beyond the shorter passes he has favored.
A meeting of 2024 draft classmates
Williams and Maye came from the same 2024 draft class. Chicago selected Williams first overall, and the Chicago Sun-Times has described Maye as his leading rival among that class’s quarterbacks. Their meeting puts Williams’ efficient passing and Maye’s recent downfield gains at the center of Thursday’s game.
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Sources and context
- Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are on fire. Can either defense make a stand in Bears-Patriots?ClutchPoints (republished by Yahoo Sports)
- Patriots QB Drake Maye emerges as Bears QB Caleb Williams' main rival from 2024 NFL Draft classChicago Sun-Times
- Drake Maye contra Caleb Williams: Patriots visitan a Bears al abrir la Semana 7Associated Press (republished by the Hartford Courant)
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.