Patriots vs. Bears Week 7 Preview: Odds, Injuries, and Betting Take

Thursday night’s primetime clash pits two 4‑2 clubs against each other at Soldier Field, and the buzz is louder than ever. The Bears, finally getting their rookie quarterback Caleb Williams back from a hamstring nag, rolled over Atlanta for 31 points. Meanwhile, the Patriots, led by the suddenly‑confident Drake Maye, have just knocked the Jets off the map.

Oddsmakers have the home side as 2.5‑point favorites (‑115) and the Patriots at +2.5 (‑105). The money‑line sits at -148 for Chicago and +124 for New England, while the total is set at 49.5 points, even on both sides. In other words, the books expect a decent scoring affair, but they’re not screaming “shoot‑out” either.

Injury news is a mixed bag. New England lists several linemen as questionable – Ben Brown, Alijah Vera‑Tucker, Morgan Moses, and even rookie wideout Romeo Doubs – plus a few players already on IR (Mack Hollins, Mike Onwenu, Greg Van Roten). Chicago isn’t pristine either; Jonah Jackson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyle Monangai and T.J. Edwards are all question marks, and defensive end Anthony Johnson is out for good.

Betting trends give a hint of where the money might be heading. The Patriots are 3‑2‑1 ATS this season, while the Bears are a tidy 4‑2 ATS overall and 2‑1 at home. When Williams starts, Chicago is 2‑1 ATS and the over hits 2‑1 in his appearances. Conversely, the under has been a bit more reliable, 4‑2 across the six games involving either squad.

Speaking of Williams, the kid is finally looking like the No. 1 overall pick he was hyped to be. He tossed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons, plus three rushing yards. In three starts he’s piled up 712 passing yards, three TDs and two scores on the ground. If the Patriots hope to keep him in check, they’ll need more than just a solid front seven; they’ll have to jam his timing, which under Ben Johnson’s scheme isn’t easy.

Maye has been riding a hot streak, too – three straight wins, including a big one over Buffalo. But New England’s O‑line is in rough shape. Three starters went down in Week 6, and with Van Roten and Onwenu already on IR, the protection for Maye could be shaky, especially on a short week.

Putting it all together, the Bears appear to have the edge. Their defense sits in the top ten for EPA per play and success rate, and they’re playing at home where they’ve covered the spread 2‑1. The Patriots, though talented, are battling a battered line and may struggle to protect Maye long enough to capitalize on his momentum.

Bottom line? I’m leaning toward Chicago covering the spread and taking the win outright. The money‑line at -148 offers decent value, and the over/under leans toward the under given the defensive strengths on both sides.

Pick: Bears moneyline (-148 at DraftKings). Remember, odds shift, so check the latest before you place your bet.