The Patriots take on the Chicago Bears this afternoon in Chicago. The Bears have struggled of late, losing two in a row but they are a team that does present match-up problems.

Quarterback Caleb Williams can make plays in and out of the pocket and he has a talented skill group to get the ball to. 

Defensively, the Bears have underachieved this season but they have a talented defense that can rush the passer and cover on the back end. They have struggled however with mobile quarterbacks so Drake Maye could exploit them today.

Here are five match-ups to watch in today’s game.

Vedarian Lowe vs. Montez Sweat: The Bears move Sweat around so he will not always be on Lowe’s side. When he is however, this is a big match up for the Patriots. One they have to win. It will be a homecoming for Lowe so he will want to play well in front of family and friends. 

Christian Gonzalez vs. D.J Moore: Gonzo will have his hands full with one of the top receivers in the NFL. Moore is a terrific route runner and he can finish and score in the open field. Gonzalez will need to be physical with Moore but how he plays his breaks will be key. 

Hunter Henry vs. Jaquan Brisker: Brisker is one of the top coverage safeties in the NFL. He reads routes well and does a good job of jumping breaks. Henry will have to do a good job of boxing out and getting body position on Brisker. Any wrong break or miscommunication and it could go the other way for six.

Patriots center and guards vs. the Bears interior defensive line: Chicago has good size inside and they do a good job of controlling gaps, especially against the run. The Patriots running game has been non-existent in recent weeks. If they are going to get it going today, they are going to need to get movement inside. 

DeMarcus Covington vs. Shane Waldron: Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron runs a diverse offense that utilizes motion and movement to create match-up opportunities for the Bears. The Patriots will need to find a balance between base pressure and blitzing. The Bears stretch defenses vertically and horizontally. When they are on, they can dictate pace. Covington will have to mix up his coverages today to confuse Williams but also be conscious of matching up the right players on the right offensive players or it could be a long afternoon for New England.