After the New England Patriots’ 19-3 victory over the Chicago Bears, quarterback Drake Maye stepped up to speak with reporters, his appreciation for the Patriots’ defense clear. Reflecting on the game, Maye didn’t hesitate to shift the spotlight away from himself. He knew the key to the Patriots’ win was the relentless performance by the defense, which not only held the Bears’ ground game under 100 yards but also sacked quarterback Caleb Williams a staggering nine times. As Maye approached the podium, he set the tone with applause, encouraging the media to join him in celebrating the defense’s exceptional effort. “Phones down. Notepads down. Let’s clap it up for the defense,” he announced with a smile, giving credit where it was due.
Maye emphasized just how much he valued the defensive unit’s performance, especially given its struggles earlier in the season. It had been weeks since the defense held an opponent under 100 rushing yards, and their pass rush had been inconsistent. But on Sunday, everything clicked. “It was a good feeling sitting over there as the quarterback watching that kind of defensive effort,” Maye said, noting how much it reminded him of their high-energy training camp sessions. He marveled at how they mixed up blitzes and coverages, describing it as “pretty cool to watch” from the sidelines.
The Patriots’ defense was unyielding, turning the game into a nightmare for Williams. They limited the Bears to a dismal 1-for-14 on third-down conversions and allowed only three points—the fewest they had given up all season. Defensive standouts Anfernee Jennings and Deatrich Wise each logged two sacks, with other players like Jahlani Tavai, Jeremiah Pharms, Keion White, Dell Pettus, and Brendan Schooler contributing to the relentless pressure.
Reflecting on the team’s effort, defensive lineman Keion White highlighted how crucial edge discipline was to their game plan. “They were trying to be aggressive early,” White said of the Bears. He praised his teammates, especially the cornerbacks Marcus Jones and Christian Gonzalez, for keeping Williams in the pocket and preventing him from making explosive plays on the run. “Our DBs were locking those guys up, and we forced Caleb into being a pocket passer,” White explained, emphasizing the team’s collective effort in shutting down Chicago’s offensive options.
For Maye, watching his defense dominate made his job much easier. Their success on the field was a testament to their hard work in practice, and he was proud to lead the cheers in recognition of their game-changing performance.
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