The Associated Press
CHICAGO (3-4) at NEW ENGLAND (5-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
OPENING LINE — Patriots by 6
RECORD VS. SPREAD — Chicago 3-4, New England 3-4
SERIES RECORD — Patriots lead 8-4
LAST MEETING — Patriots beat Bears 36-7, Dec. 12, 2010
LAST WEEK — Bears lost to Dolphins 27-14; Patriots beat Jets 27-25
AP PRO32 RANKING — Bears No. 19, Patriots No. 8
BEARS OFFENSE — OVERALL (17), RUSH (24), PASS (10).
BEARS DEFENSE — OVERALL (17), RUSH (14), PASS (19T).
PATRIOTS OFFENSE — OVERALL (18), RUSH (20), PASS (15).
PATRIOTS DEFENSE — OVERALL (12), RUSH (24), PASS (1).
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Teams meet for fourth time in 13 years, with Patriots winning last three. … Bears are 3-1 on road. Only Dallas Cowboys, 3-0, are better. … Jay Cutler has best passer rating of any quarterback Patriots have faced this season, 94.4. … RB Matt Forte leads NFL with 52 receptions and is fifth with 448 yards rushing. … DE Willie Young tied for NFC lead with seven sacks. … WR Brandon Marshall goes for third straight 100-yard receiving game vs. Patriots. In last three meetings, he has 18 catches for 379 yards and a TD. … Bears’ defense has eight INTs but just two in last four games. … Chicago has bye after game before visiting Green Bay. … Patriots go for fourth straight win overall and 13th in row over NFC North opponent. … QB Tom Brady has thrown for 914 yards, nine TDs, no INTs in last three games. … RB Shane Vereen led Patriots with 43 yards rushing, 71 yards receiving and two TD catches against Jets in first game since primary RB Stevan Ridley suffered season-ending knee injury. Vereen facing younger brother, Bears rookie S Brock Vereen. … WR Brandon LaFell has three TD receptions in last four games. … DT Chris Jones blocked 58-yard FG attempt by Nick Folk on final play to secure win in Patriots’ last game. … Patriots allowing fewest yards passing per game in NFL, 208. … After this, New England facing toughest stretch of season with next five games against Denver, Indianapolis, Detroit, Green Bay and San Diego.
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