What is illegal forward handing? Bears flagged for one of NFL's rarest penalties
The rare flag erased a Bears trick play and marked the NFL's first illegal forward handoff penalty in 16 years, officials said.
- On Thursday, the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots 30-24 at Soldier Field, improving to 5-2. Quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
- Despite quarterback Drake Maye throwing for 305 yards and two total touchdowns, New England's offense struggled with injuries and penalties. The Patriots were flagged 10 times for 71 yards, consistently hindering their ability to sustain drives.
- Bears receiver Luther Burden III dominated the first half with 130 receiving yards and a touchdown. Rhamondre Stevenson answered for New England with a 48-yard touchdown catch on the final play of the first half, narrowing Chicago's lead to 20-14.
- Kicker Cairo Santos sealed the Bears' victory with a 58-yard field goal late in the game, effectively ending the Patriots' comeback bid. The loss drops New England to 4-3, while Chicago improves to 5-2.
- Patriots coach Mike Vrabel cited execution issues despite the team's resilience, stating "I like the way they competed and we certainly gave ourselves a chance." New England will rest before visiting Miami on November 1.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Craig Carton explains why the NFL has some questions to ask after bizarre moment in Bears-Patriots game - NEW YORK TIMES POST
Sports betting is a big part of the sports experience these days, and unfortunately, that will lead to questions about the game’s integrity, as OutKick’s Craig Carton pointed out on Friday’s edition of “The Craig Carton Show.” The Chicago Bears took on the New England Patriots on Thursday, and there was a certain play late [...]
2026 ELWAY NFL projections
Getty Images/Silver Bulletin illustration🏈 The latest on ELWAYOctober 23, 2026ELWAY has been updated with Thursday night’s game. The Bears improved to 5-2 with a 30-24 win over the Patriots, as Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns. Drake Maye accounted for three touchdowns of his own, but Cairo Santos’s late 58-yard field goal helped Chicago hold on, snapping New England’s three-game winning streak and dropping the Patriots to …
Will this loss come back to haunt the Patriots later this season when the playoffs are on the line? - The Boston Globe
A victory was within reach for New England on Thursday, but instead the Patriots failed to give themselves a little breathing room in the standings.
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