Patriots quarterback Drake Maye hands off to running back Rhamondre Stevenson during their 19-3 win over the Bears on Sunday in Chicago. Kamil Krzaczynski/Associated Press

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said he reserves the right to change his mind. He did it again later New England wins 19-3 against the Bears on Sunday afternoon.

Mayo began Monday morning’s video conference with reporters saying Sunday’s win reminded him of the Patriots’ Week 1 victory over the Bengals.

“We’re at this point in the season, this is who we are. We have to go out there, we have to control the line of scrimmage, we have to be able to pass the ball, we have to stay ahead of the sticks, we have to play good defense, we have to get off the field third try, which we did yesterday generating pressure and covering as well, and playing good special teams,” Mayo said.

“That’s the formula. As I always say, I use it as a microphone not only to give you information, but also to talk to the players. So, players, this is how we have to play in the future.

However, fast forward to last month and Mayo said at the time that he realized the style of play was “unsustainable.”

“We knew going into the season that we would take our lumps, and even after the first game where we beat Cincinnati, we understood that it wasn’t sustainable to win that way,” Mayo said after the Patriots’ 30-13 loss to the 49ers. during week 4.

When asked why he changed his mind about whether the Patriots’ formula of controlling the line of scrimmage and time of possession was sustainable, Mayo said now was “a totally different time than the season.”

“Last week I watched the first three games of the season and just tried to pick out the things we did well and the things people were attacking us for,” Mayo said. “Now, I said this weeks ago at the start of the season, and now – again, reserving the right to change my mind – we can do it. We can do it, and that’s what we did last night.

“I hope that’s what we do in the future.” I would say just overall, just the physicality of this game compared to this one. I think it’s – when I say at the time unsustainable or sustainable, whatever, it’s really the physical part that we have to continue to build on, which I would say is sustainable.

The Patriots emphasized physicality last week in practice, kicking off the competitive portion of last Wednesday’s session with a run blocking/run defense drill that seemed to pay off on both ends of the floor. line.

The Patriots gained 144 yards and 4.1 yards per carry on the ground – a significant improvement from previous weeks – and allowed just 73 yards rushing and 3.6 yards per carry to the Bears.

The Patriots’ pass defense was also dominant, sacking Bears quarterback Caleb Williams nine times with help from the secondary, which limited the No. 1 rookie pick to just 120 passing yards with sticky coverage on an impressive wide receiver trio of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze.

PATRIOTS ON THE BENCH Veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean he’ll stay out of the offensive game plan.

Mayo was asked Monday if he plans to continue playing young wide receivers against Bourne.

“My goal as head coach is to put the players in play that give us the best chance to win,” Mayo said. “(Patriots executive vice president of player personnel) Eliot (Wolf) and his staff, they have the hardest part of trying to get the roster as good as we can get it now, but also watching towards the future. At the end of the day, it’s my decision and my decision week in and week out to put the best players on the field that give us the best chance of winning.

Kayshon Boutte led Patriots receivers with 62 of a possible 64 snaps. Veteran KJ Osborn was second with 29 snaps, followed by DeMario Douglas with 27 snaps, Ja’Lynn Polk with 26 snaps and Javon Baker with four snaps.

“It’s always been about competition,” Mayo said on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show.” “I said that from training camp. It’s about competition and who has the best week of practice and who has the best week in walk-throughs and meeting rooms. It is what it is.

Overall, Mayo was pleased with the performance of the Patriots wide receivers, praising their blocking and ability to get open and catch the ball.

Douglas led the group with four catches for 50 yards. Boutte had four catches for 47 yards and Polk scored on a 2-yard touchdown reception.

EXPERIENCED PATRIOTS playing Mike Onwenu, who switched between right guard and right tackle, at left guard during practice last week. Onwenu ended up staying at right guard, leaving Michael Jordan at left guard.

“It just comes down to what’s the best alignment that gives us the best opportunity to move up front and protect the quarterback, and that’s what we thought we’d do,” Mayo said of sticking with Onwenu at guard RIGHT. “That was the idea behind it.”

If Onwenu had moved to left guard, then rookie Layden Robinson would have started in his place at right guard.

THE PATRIOTS HAVE has mixed up snaps at running back this season between Antonio Gibson, who played stronger early in the season, and JaMycal Hasty, who played mostly in reserve for starter Rhamondre Stevenson on Sunday.

“I would just say those three backs bring something different to the table,” Mayo said. “Again, the last few weeks it’s been more of a Hasty game than a Gibby game. Look, this is a discussion week in and week out, not just in the background, but at multiple positions on this team.

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