The New England Patriots dropped a back-and-forth battle to the Chicago Bears 30-24 on Thursday Night Football. It was a close, competitive game throughout, and New England had its chances late. Still, the Patriots’ performance left behind a clear set of winners and losers/ Some players gave the Patriots a real shot to steal one in Chicago. Others are a big reason they didn’t. Here is how it all shakes out.

Patriots winners vs. Bears

RB Rhamondre Stevenson

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson was New England’s leading receiver on the night, and that is a bit of a problem. We’ll get to that in a second. Stevenson finished with five receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown, and he chipped in some work on the ground as well.

He was one of the most explosive pieces of the Patriots’ offense Thursday. That’s a great sign for Stevenson. It’s a less encouraging one for the receivers around him.

QB Drake Maye

Quarterback Drake Maye had an ugly interception in the red zone. I’m still trying to figure out why he threw that ball the way he did to the tight end. But that play doesn’t change the bigger picture.

The Patriots were in this game down the stretch, despite a putrid defensive showing, because of Maye. He also wasn’t getting much help. Wide receivers who are supposed to make plays for New England simply weren’t making them.

So I have to give Maye a lot of credit. He fought hard, he bounced back after the interception, and he played one of his cleaner games of the season.

TE Eli Raridon

Eli Raridon was one of the players who had to step up for the Patriots, and he did. Raritan caught three passes for 56 yards and a touchdown, including the big score late that pulled New England back within striking distance. The Patriots didn’t finish the job, but Raritan held up his end.

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Patriots losers vs. Bears

S Craig Woodson

Safety Craig Woodson had a rough night. Chicago picked on him in both the run game and the passing game, and he was flagged for a bad penalty. In my opinion, he just never looked comfortable out there.

G Matt Pryor

Backup guard Matt Pryor jumped early on a fourth-and-2, and the false start turned a manageable situation into fourth-and-7. New England should have gone for it there. Vrabel may or may not have gone for it, but either way, losing five yards on fourth down hurt the Patriots’ comeback chances.

WR AJ Brown

Wide receiver AJ Brown finished with three catches for 48 yards on six targets. That is not what the Patriots signed up for.

To be fair to Brown, he’s only a few weeks removed from the Week 1 ankle injury that landed him on IR, so I won’t be too harsh. But this was a game where his quarterback needed him. Maye didn’t get much help from Brown, and he was facing a Bears secondary that, let’s be honest, is not good. You expect a player of Brown’s caliber to take over in that matchup. Three catches for 48 yards isn’t that.

Team defense

The Patriots allowed 30 points and 405 total yards, suffered multiple breakdowns, and forced zero takeaways. I understand Chicago has arguably the best offense in the NFL. Even so, I can’t defend what went on out there.

That’s not high-level defensive football. New England had no answers for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, while Luther Burden, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland had a field day. The Patriots have to clean that up.

Coach Mike Vrabel

Vrabel is the final loser on the list. In my opinion, Bears head coach Ben Johnson thoroughly outcoached him. Johnson took more calculated risks, and those risks won Chicago the football game. Vrabel, meanwhile, looked indecisive on a few of his fourth-down calls.

This matchup put both coaches’ specialties on display. Johnson had his offense, and Vrabel, a defensive head coach, had his defense. The way I see it, it wasn’t close.

That makes Vrabel the fifth and final loser in a 30-24 Thursday Night Football defeat for New England.