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Fields threw for 179 yards and ran for another 82 as he
delivered the victory mere hours after general manager Ryan
Poles said the team's quarterback was showing signs of growth.
The effort was helped by Chicago's defense, which forced four
turnovers.
Cairo Santos made four field goals for the Bears, who reeled off
the game's final 23 points starting late in the second quarter.
Chicago entered with five consecutive defeats against New
England.
Bailey Zappe threw for 185 yards and a touchdown with two
interceptions in relief of Mac Jones, who struggled in his
return from a high ankle sprain. Jones guided New England to
just 51 yards of net offense over the first three series before
he was removed.
As the Bears built a 10-0 lead in the first quarter on a 42-yard
field goal from Santos and a 3-yard TD run from Fields, Jones
struggled after missing the previous three games. Zappe made an
immediate impact, hitting Jakobi Myers with a 30-yard touchdown
pass on his fourth play.
On his next play, after Patriots cornerback Myles Bryant
intercepted Fields, Zappe hit DeVante Parker on a 43-yard pass.
Rhamondre Stevenson scored on a 4-yard run two plays later as
New England took a 14-10 lead with 6:04 remaining in the first
half.
The Bears regrouped quickly, taking a 17-14 lead on Fields'
25-yard TD pass to Khalil Herbert with 1:54 remaining in the
first half. Santos' 23-yard field goal on the final play before
halftime gave Chicago a 20-14 advantage.
Santos made a pair of field goals in the third quarter, from 38
and 50 yards, to give the Bears a 26-14 edge. Montgomery put the
game away when he scored from 1 yard out with 12:13 remaining as
the Bears grabbed a 33-14 lead.
Chicago gained 243 yards rushing, its second consecutive game
over 200 and the third time it reached the mark this season.
Bears linebacker Roquan Smith finished with an interception, a
sack and 12 tackles.
New England's Matthew Judon had 2.5 sacks to take over the NFL
lead with 8.5.
Fields started in a game against Jones for the first time since
Jan. 11, 2021, when Jones led Alabama to a 52-24 victory over
Fields and Ohio State in the College Football Playoff national
championship game.
--Field Level Media
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