The unique aspect of this year’s Bears schedule is that their home schedule is filled with not only weaker non-league teams, but also opponents they match up well with.

The Bears definitely need to be interested in Drake Maye because the Patriots’ quarterback has a big arm, is a bigger player who can move, and so far he’s done both.

“His two-minute surgery went well,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said. “He did a really good job with it.

“He used his legs when he was available. He had a lot of yards last week.”

However, he was prone to throwing errant throws and interceptions in six of his four starts.

“He is a young player, like many young point guards playing in the league this year,” Eberflus said. “There are a bunch of these drafts.

“And again, he’s learning as he goes there. But it’s impressive.”

Facing the Bears for a second time in Chicago isn’t the easiest task.

The Bears have won nine straight as a home team, eight at Soldier Field, and the weaker defenses on the perimeter are giving the Bears offense trouble. The Bears are stronger offensively in the middle of the field in their passing game, and a weaker team on the perimeter is inviting trouble from every angle.

Here are the Bears in the best position to cause trouble for New England.

1. RB D’Andre Swift

Swift’s ability to work short passing plays for screens or get out of the backfield has been solid all year, and when the Bears’ offense looked at its best against the Jaguars, Panthers and Rams, it was doing damage that way. The Patriots’ pass defense wasn’t their biggest weakness, but they were at their worst receiving short passes. In Swift’s case, he’ll be doubly dangerous for New England because he’s the best running back to the outside and New England ranks 20th in rushing to the left end (6.42 yards per carry) and 24th to the right end (6.15 ypc).

2. S Kevin Byard

The ballhawks could face a big-armed rookie QB who has four interceptions in four starts. Moreover, New England’s receiving corps has the worst zone coverage, with the exception of Demario Douglas, who passes underneath zones. Ja’Lynn Polk and Kayshon Boutte have plenty of speed but won’t try to break through man coverage much. Byard ranks eighth against the pass if they challenge the Bears deep Professional Football Focus and ninth overall. Stathead/Pro Football Reference tracks Byard with a 56% completion rate allowed (14 of 25) when targeted; that’s the third-lowest percentage of his career and his best since 2021.

3. LB Tremaine Edmunds

Young quarterbacks have the worst tendency to hold the ball for too long and throw the ball deeper when they do. Most have never played against a defenseman who stands 6-foot-4 and whose arm length and wingspan rank in the top 3% of all defensemen ever measured at the combine.

If Maye makes the mistake of going into zone coverage and thinking it’s a mistake that goes over Edmunds’ mind, it can be picked up or tipped to someone else. Edmunds started this season well but, like TJ Edwards, has slipped in the PFF rankings. This is the type of team Edmunds needs to have success with.

THE BEARS NOW HAVE TO SWEAT IN THE NFC NORTH RACE

THE BEARS NOW HAVE TO SWEAT IN THE NFC NORTH RACE

BEARS ATTACK TREND SHOWS TIME TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT

BEARS APPROACHING MAJORLY RENEWED ATTACK LINE AGAINST THE PATRIOTS

4.TE Cole Kmet

Look for the Bears to repeat passes with Kmet projected as the primary target this week. After getting on pace for arguably their best season through game six, they can’t go another week without being targeted. The Patriots’ issues with pass defense in short yards, especially in the middle of the field, could make it easier for Kmet to do damage. New England classically played mostly man-to-man, but Playing more two-deep safety coverage than in the past. This is another reason why tight end or tight ends (referring to Gerald Everett here) hurt New England. The Jets hit them with seven passes to tight ends for 108 yards in one game, and former Vikings tight end Tyler Conklin had eight receptions in both games. Greg Kittle led the 49ers in catches in their win over the Patriots.

5. DE Montez Teri

He returned. The Bears’ defense looked lost without breaking a sweat. Without Sweat or Andrew Billings following their injuries last week, they have really suffered losses up front. New England is throwing much shorter, more timed passes, and Sweat can’t get home on them, but he’s also one of the Bears’ best run defenders and leads the team in tackles for loss with five. The Patriots’ third-year forward Vederian Lowe from Illinois is ranked 55th out of 76 tackles by PFF, and the Bears may look to take advantage of that matchup by luring Sweat to their side.

6. Slot CB Kyler Gordon

Gordon’s absence was another reason the Bears had trouble stopping the run last week, but he is back, as is Sweat. He became the Bears’ wild card on defense, with several tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed. The Bears like to use him in slot attacks and even blitzes. Gordon is rated as PFF’s 10th best cornerback or slot cornerback in defense against the run. His play near the line was one of the reasons the Bears were able to stop Jacksonville’s one-two punch down the field early before his hamstring injury.

7.WR Keenan Allen

Allen’s ability to catch passes at midfield should work well if the Patriots’ defense is vulnerable through the air in that area of ​​the field. Marcus Jones is the Patriots’ cornerback and has tremendous speed. He poses a real threat on special teams, but he’s six inches shorter than the 5-8 Allen in coverage and 10 inches shorter if moved to cover Kmet. In Allen’s case, a six-inch advantage is all he needs to contort his body and make a critical catch.

8.G Teven Jenkins

The Bears like to take their guards out when running a wide zone blocking scheme. The Patriots’ vulnerability on the perimeter so far could make a mobile guard a threat on run plays to wide receivers and even running backs on stretch plays or screens. Jenkins recovered from his knee injury last week and appears to be ready as his name was removed from the injury report.

9. QB Caleb Williams

At home, he has a 105.1 passer rating, a 67.3% completion rate, seven of his nine TD passes and just one of his five interceptions. Home sweet home. If Williams checks in, this is a team he could burn.

Twitter: BearsOnSI