The New England Patriots couldn’t overcome many problems in a 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday night. But one of the biggest issues, both in physicality and salary, was the performance of highly paid interior defenders Milton Williams and Christian Barmore.
The duo, which accounts for $45.6 million in cap space this season, didn’t earn their pay on Thursday night, combining for five pressures and a sack on 47 combined pass-rushing snaps according to Pro Football Focus. The duo was even more absent against the run, logging two stops on 29 combined snaps.
The performance helped the Bears control the clock and run for 116 yards on the evening, and it’s time for the Patriots to start getting what they paid for.
Christian Barmore and Milton Williams let the Bears control Thursday’s loss
Williams and Barmore’s no-show had the biggest impact on the Patriots on Thursday night and was against the run. The Bears ran inefficiently, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry on 30 rushing attempts. But on a night when Chicago was without Kyle Monangai in the backfield, D’Andre Swift took on the challenge himself.
Swift had a workmanlike effort, gaining 78 yards on 22 carries and punching it into the end zone in the first quarter to give Chicago a 10-0 lead. The Bears also added 18 rushing yards from Caleb Williams and 20 combined yards on three carries from Roschon Johnson and Luther Burden to pace the running game, which seemed to keep the chains moving when the Bears needed it.
Perhaps more maddening, the Patriots’ front couldn’t disrupt Williams enough to throw off his timing. Williams finished the evening with 22-of-33 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns, but he was pressured on only 18 of his 39 dropbacks, a 46.2 percent pressure rate.
Even when Barmore came up with a sack of Williams with 1:46 to play, it came too late; Cairo Santos knocked down a 58-yard field goal on the next play, effectively putting the game out of reach. It was the type of play the Bears needed all night and bred a conversation about needing more from their playmakers.
The Patriots need more than potential from Milton Williams and Christian Barmore
While the box score hasn’t shown it, Barmore and Williams have some redeemable qualities. Barmore entered Thursday with a 75.8 overall grade, ranking 13th among qualifiers this season and putting him in the same company as Leonard Williams of the Seattle Seahawks and Jalen Redmond of the Minnesota Vikings.
Williams has also been praised by ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, who noted that Williams “destroys run games” for opponents, even if he didn’t do so on Thursday night.
Still, the Patriots need more from this duo. Barmore entered Thursday with just five total tackles and a pair of sacks, while Williams had 14 total tackles and one sack. The Bears game was also disappointing because they made a much bigger impact in a Week 5 win over the New York Jets, combining for four total tackles, three quarterback hits, and two sacks.
The Bears’ offensive line, which ranked sixth in PFF’s rankings entering Week 7, may have played a role in the performance. But for a pair of handsomely paid defensive tackles, they’re expected to make impact plays against any opponent, and they didn’t make enough of them on Thursday night.
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