Bears vs. Patriots 2016 online streaming: Time, TV schedule and and how to watch live

The Bears will look to build off a feisty week of practice with the Patriots.

Aug 18, 2016, 12:00 PM UTC

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It's been a feisty week of practice for the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots, which means fans may be in for an uncharacteristically chippy preseason game when these two teams meet at Gillette Stadium Thursday night.

The first altercation happened Monday, when Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler and Bears wideout Alshon Jeffrey started grabbing each others' face masks. Both teams rushed to the scene and Bears backup tight end Greg Shruggs got involved as well. Butler was ejected from practice due to the Patriots' no fighting rule, whereas Jeffrey was allowed to stick around.

Over the last several years, an increasing number of head coaches have been scheduling scrimmages with other teams during training camp. The thinking is that these practice sessions typically carry more intensity, which means they more accurately simulate game conditions. The Bears and Patriots proved that to be correct this week.

We've got a scuffle. Starts with Alshon and Malcolm Butler. Grabbed face masks. Butler kicked out of practice pic.twitter.com/wsCADccyg0
— EvanFitzgerald Fox32 (@EvanWFitzgerald) August 15, 2016

The two teams clashed again Tuesday, when Bears defensive back Harold Jones-Quartey popped Patriots wideout Julian Edelman in an 11-on-11 drill. After that small skirmish, Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, who played for New England last season, laid a heavy hit on tight end Martellus Bennett, who shot his way out of Chicago. The main event came when Patriots center Bryan Stork head-butted Bears linebacker John Timu, which resulted in his ejection from practice.

Unlike Belichick, Fox doesn’t reprimand his players for fighting. In fact, he says all of these dust ups were overblown. “Those weren’t fights,” Fox said, via the Chicago Sun Times. “Those were just pushing matches.’”

Fox is probably relieved to see some fight out of his team, considering the way the Bears were trounced in their preseason opener against the Denver Broncos. The Bears were shut out 22-0, allowing seven sacks to a Denver defense that was without three of its best players –– Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib. Jay Cutler was constantly under pressure during his one quarter of play, throwing for just 18 yards and getting sacked twice.

Though the Bears were abysmal, at least they stayed healthy. The same can't be said for the Patriots, whose players have battled a number of injuries so far this summer. Most notably, Rob Gronkowski missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday with a bruised knee, though the injury isn't believed to be serious.

In addition to Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Dion Lewis have been sidelined due to injuries during camp. Edelman shined in his return to practice field this week, though, and could play against Chicago Thursday.

All eyes will also be on Tom Brady, who didn't play in the Patriots' win over the New Orleans Saints last week to attend a family member's funeral. Brady will miss the first four games of the season due to his DeflateGate suspension, but still figures to get some action this preseason. Jimmy Garoppolo went 11 of 18 for 168 yards during his first stint as the Patriots' starting quarterback.