A first for Drake Maye since Tom Brady in 2014?

Not since Tom Brady in 2014 has a New England Patriots quarterback thrown at least three touchdown passes in four consecutive games. Drake Maye could achieve this feat on Thursday night at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears, led by his longtime friend Caleb Williams. The game will air at 8 p.m. on RDS2.

The two quarterbacks have known each other for a long time. They attended the same development camps as teenagers before being drafted in the same year, 2024. Williams was selected first overall by Chicago, and Maye third overall by New England.

After a rough start to the season, Maye has found his stride. During the Patriots' three-game winning streak, the 24-year-old quarterback completed 64.1% of his passes for 878 yards, with 10 touchdowns and just one interception.

In Chicago, there's concern about his mobility. Williams believes his teammates will absolutely have to contain him. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen highlights Maye's ability to escape pressure and create big plays. Head coach Ben Johnson, for his part, considers the combination of Maye's powerful arm and speed to be formidable—a combination that has really come into its own in recent weeks.

Caleb Williams Returns in Top Form

Williams, who turns 25 on November 18, missed three games due to a hamstring injury. He showed no signs of rust upon his return on Sunday in Atlanta: 30 completions on 36 attempts, 305 yards, and a touchdown in the 31-23 victory over the Falcons.

Maye can't stop praising his rival. He admires the way Williams escapes pressure and throws with precision while on the move. He even admits to doubting whether he's as skilled as Williams in the pocket.

Safety Kevin Byard knows Williams well, having trained alongside him for two seasons in Chicago. In his view, this matchup will be, above all, a 60-minute mental battle between two quarterbacks who are shining this season.

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