The New England Patriots take on the Chicago Bears in a regular season game at Soldier Field on Sunday, October 21, 2018.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs off the field after an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. The Patriots won 38-31.(AP Photo/David Banks)
Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) greet each other after an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. The Patriots won 38-31.(AP Photo/David Banks)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, left, and Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy greet each other after an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. The Patriots won 38-31. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon (10) runs against Chicago Bears cornerback Bryce Callahan (37) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots defensive back Jonathan Jones (31) celebrates an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots defensive end Adrian Clayborn (94) sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots defensive back J.C. Jackson (27) celebrates after interception a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots' Kyle Van Noy (53) celebrates after returning a blocked punt for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
New England Patriots' Kyle Van Noy (53) celebrates with J.C. Jackson (27) after returning a blocked punt for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (13) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs against Chicago Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (94) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Tom Brady (12) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots' Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs to the end zone for a touchdown on a kickoff return during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots' Cordarrelle Patterson (84) celebrates with J.C. Jackson (27) after running to the end zone for a touchdown on a kickoff return during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots' Cordarrelle Patterson (84) spikes the ball to celebrate after running to the end zone for a touchdown on a kickoff return during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise (91) celebrates a quarterback sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty (32) tackles Chicago Bears tight end Trey Burton (80) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) tosses the ball to running back James White (28) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) spikes the ball to celebrate a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) is tackled by Chicago Bears strong safety Adrian Amos (38) in the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hands off the ball to running back Sony Michel (26) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) calls a play during the first half of before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
New England Patriots wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) takes the field before an NFL football gameagainst the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
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Después de una dura batalla de 60 minutos, los Patriots salen airosos de Chicago, consiguiendo de esta manera su primera victoria de visita de la temporada.
Brady y su ofensiva tuvieron un buen inicio con una serie de 75 jugadas que terminó en TD, pero un balón perdido de Cordarrelle Patterson durante un retorno y otro balón suelto de Sony Michel (jugada donde salió lesionado), dieron la posibilidad a los Bears para ponerse adelante 17-7 en el segundo cuarto.
Esas dos jugadas de New England solo fueron el inicio de otras muchas (en ambos bandos) que hicieron de este un partido de ida y vuelta.
Vale mencionar que Patterson se recuperó retornando el balón 95 yardas para anotar un TD que cortó el déficit en el segundo cuarto.
Igualmente notorio fue la lesión a la rodilla sufrida por Sony Michel, el RB tuvo que salir con ayuda, aparentemente tras haber sufrido una lesión de consideración.
Brady, sin Gronk (no viajó a Chicago) y sin Michel buena parte del partido, distribuyó el balón entre sus armas ofensivas restantes. James White (8 de 10, 57 yd, 2 TD), Chris Hogan (6 de 7, 63 yd), Julian Edelman (5 de 8, 36 yd, 1 TD) y Josh Gordon (4 de 7, 100 yd) contribuyeron en su momento para que el QB de New England terminara su actuación completando 25 de 36 pases para 277 yardas y 3 TD. Brady contó con una buena protección, limitando al excelente juego de pass rushing de los Bears a solo 1 captura y 3 golpes al QB.
El juego de carrera, sin Michel durante gran parte del partido, contó con James White (11 acarreos para 40 yd) y Kenjon Barner (10 acarreos, 36 yd).
Defensivamente los Patriots tuvieron problemas para frenar al QB Mitch Trubisky, particularmente cuando salía del bolso de protección, corriendo en 6 ocasiones para un total de 81 yardas y 1 TD.
En 50 intentos, Trubisky completó 26 pases para un total de 333 yardas y 2 INT. Vale mencionar que 55 de esas yardas provienen de la última jugada del partido cuando a solo 2 segundos del final, en un intento desesperado, el QB lanza un Hail Mary que completó a menos de una yarda de la zona de anotación.
El QB de Chicago fue capturado en 2 ocasiones.
Resumiendo
No fue la mejor actuación de los Patriots, pero en vista de las ausencias, lesiones e inconsistencias en la defensa, equipos especiales, balones sueltos (3) y penalidades (4), el equipo supo luchar y salir airoso frente a un rival difícil, logrando así su primera victoria de visita y la quinta de la temporada.
