Patriots and Bears clash

Two teams with Super Bowl aspirations face off in Thursday Night Football with both at 4-2 records but not at full strength.

Patriots' recent injuries

Patriots have placed multiple players on injured reserve this season, including wide receiver Romeo Doubs this week.

Patriots inactives

Patriots inactives include QB Behren Morton (emergency third QB), OG Ben Brown (knee), RB Kyle Monangai (thumb/toe), DT Joshua Farmer, and CB Carlton Davis (neck).

Bears inactives

Bears inactives include QB Case Keenum (emergency third QB), CB Carlton Davis (neck), DT Jordan Loving, CB Channing Canada (hamstring), LB T.J. Edwards, and CB Karon Prunty (hamstring).

Patriots' OL situation

Patriots' offensive line has two starters out, with Walter Rouse and Matt Pryor stepping up to fill in at both guard spots.

Patriots' cornerbacks

Patriots are down three cornerbacks, with Carlton Davis missing his fourth game due to a neck injury and rookies Channing Canada and Karon Prunty out with hamstring injuries.

Bears' defensive issues

Bears rank 14th in NFL passing defense but have key players banged up in the secondary, including Tyrique Stevenson (hip injury) and Nick McCloud (two games played).

Patriots' strategy

Patriots can exploit Chicago's weak passing defense by pushing the ball through the air to avoid the Bears' strong run defense.

Head coach Vrabel

Head coach Mike Vrabel shared all inactives at his final press conference on Wednesday, noting the team's need for strong tackling.

Patriots' offensive line

Patriots' offensive line has lost Mike Onwenu early in the season and his backup Greg Van Roten one week later, with two players starting without summer training.

Vrabel on roster decisions

Vrabel said the team will go with where they finished on Sunday and have everyone ready to go for the game.

Patriots' cornerbacks ready

Patriots have four active cornerbacks for the game: Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Charles Woods, and Kindle Vildor, with Elliott Davison getting snaps in a reserve role.

Patriots' cornerbacks scare

Patriots nearly lost cornerback Christian Gonzalez to illness but he warmed up on the field and will suit up.

Patriots' strategy for Bears

Patriots can push the ball through the air to exploit Chicago's weak passing defense and avoid the Bears' strong run defense.

Patriots' game plan

Patriots will need to be great tacklers to counter Chicago's strong run defense and exploit their weak passing defense.

“Their runners or anybody that touches the ball is going to be a physical player, is going to be a tough tackle, "We'll have to be great tacklers."”