Not one of the Bills, Dolphins or Jets lost in Week 7. Now, the Patriots must keep their AFC East hot streak alive. After back-to-back wins over the Lions and Browns, both with rookie Bailey Zappe under center in place of the injured Mac Jones, New England hosts the Bears for a chance to go over .500. Jones returned to action for the first time since suffering a sprained ankle against the Ravens in Week 3, but was replaced by Zappe in the second quarter after struggling in the first quarter.
Perhaps this is a great chance for Justin Fields to prove himself in prime time, with Matt Eberflus’ Bears “D” presenting a potential challenge for Jones in his first game back. Chants for Zappe’s return to the lineup might not be far off if the Pats’ own offense struggles out of the gate. But perhaps Belichick is destined to keep the Patriots in the AFC East race simply by keeping the pressure on Fields. Either way, this one should be a good one, and it will have implications for the red-hot Bills and Jets.
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How to look
Date: Monday, October 24 | Time: 8:15 pm ET Location: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts) TV: ESPN | Stream: fuboTV (Try Free) Follow: CBS Sports App Odds: Patriots -7.5, O/U 40 (Courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook)