Patriots edged 30-24 in Chicago thriller | AFC East roundup

The New England Patriots came up just short under the Thursday night lights, falling 30-24 to the Chicago Bears in a marquee Week 7 matchup that pitted young quarterbacks Drake Maye and Caleb Williams against each other.

Patriots drop TNF matchup, lose Vera-Tucker to IR

As reported by La Presse, Caleb Williams threw two touchdown passes and finished with 308 passing yards to lead the Bears past the Patriots, 30-24. With the loss, New England drops to 4-3, remaining behind the Buffalo Bills (5-1) in the AFC East race. CBS Sports had highlighted this "TNF" showdown as one of the key games on the Week 7 slate with playoff implications.

Off the field, the Patriots’ offensive line took a significant hit. According to Pro Football Rumors, New England placed starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker on injured reserve Thursday because of a hamstring injury, which will sideline him for at least the team’s next four games. Pro Football Rumors notes that the 27-year-old has dealt with multiple injuries during his NFL career and was originally selected 14th overall in the draft.

In Thursday’s minor roster moves, Pro Football Rumors also mentions that the Patriots elevated offensive lineman Xavier Newman-Johnson as part of their pregame transactions, bolstering depth after the Vera-Tucker news.

Discipline-wise, CBS Sports reports that the NFL has punished head coaches Mike Vrabel (Patriots), Nick Sirianni (Eagles) and Aaron Glenn (Jets) with near-record fines, meaning both New England and New York were directly involved in the league’s latest round of sanctions.

Sieler staying put amid Dolphins rebuild

In Miami, defensive tackle Zach Sieler is not seeking a trade, according to Pro Football Rumors. The outlet recalls that the Dolphins received several trade calls about Sieler last year but never came close to a deal. In 2026, Miami is in the early stages of a full-scale rebuild, with a number of veterans already out of the picture, leaving Sieler as a notable presence on a roster that currently sits at 0-5 in the AFC East.

Quiet day for Bills and Jets

For the Buffalo Bills (5-1) and New York Jets (2-4), it was a relatively quiet 24-hour window beyond the CBS Sports report on the near-record fine handed to Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. With no additional headlines or game action, both clubs turn their attention to preparation as Buffalo continues to set the pace in the division and the Jets try to stay within striking distance in the AFC East race.