The Chicago Bears honored Mike Ditka before the game. They honored him with a win, too.

Caleb Williams went 22-of-33 for 308 yards and two touchdowns as Chicago led from start to finish and held off the New England Patriots 30-24 on Thursday Night Football at Soldier Field. The Bears improved to 5-2, while the Patriots fell to 4-3.

Chicago jumped out to a 10-0 lead and was up 20-7 with 14 seconds left in the first half before New England struck on the final play of the half, a 48-yard catch-and-run touchdown from Drake Maye to Rhamondre Stevenson that made it 20-14 at the break.

Luther Burden caught four passes for 130 yards and a touchdown, all in the first half, and four other Bears receivers had at least three catches. D’Andre Swift carried 22 times for 78 yards and a touchdown as Chicago outgained New England 405 to 380.

The finish came down to the kickers. Bears kicker Cairo Santos made a career-long 58-yard field goal with 1:34 remaining to give Chicago a two-score lead, one snap after Williams took a 10-yard sack on third-and-5 at the New England 30 that appeared to push the Bears out of field-goal range. Santos had missed earlier from 53, off the right upright.

New England answered quickly, getting into range for Andy Borregales’ 47-yard field goal with 37 seconds left. Trailing by six, the Patriots tried an onside kick, but Rome Odunze recovered for the Bears to seal it.

Maye finished 24-of-31 for 321 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, and also ran for 26 yards and a touchdown on four carries. Stevenson had five catches for 93 yards and a touchdown and ran for 22 yards on six carries. A.J. Brown had three receptions for 48 yards.

Chicago won the quarters battle early, leading 10-0 after the first and 20-14 at halftime, and matched New England score for score the rest of the way in the second career meeting between Williams and Maye, the first and third picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.