Bears 24, Titans 17: Defense Gifts Caleb Williams His 1st NFL Win

What’s old is new again. The Chicago Bears opened Week 1 with a stinker against the Tennessee Titans, but still managed to pick up a win by channeling a familiar formula with defense and special teams taking the lead.

FINAL: Chicago Bears 24, Tennessee Titans 17 ()

Four thoughts on the Bears’ Week 1 performance

Caleb Williams’ debut went as well as you might’ve expected from a Bears rookie quarterback, particularly if you’re someone who has seen first-year Chicago QBs debut in the past. It was ugly. QB1 finished the day completing just 14 of 29 passes, throwing for 92 yards, and posting a 55.5 passer rating. Williams didn’t throw any interceptions, but he didn’t throw any touchdowns either. It was clunky and borderline unwatchable. No wonder George McCaskey was recently trying to preach patience.

Credit Chicago’s defense for coming through when it counted the most. After giving up 17 early points, that side of the ball shut it down and presented a path to victory. The defense had 3 sacks, 8 tackles-for-loss, 4 pass breakups, and 10 quarterback hits. Oh, and they came up with what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.

. JUST DID THAT 🫡

📺: on FOX

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears)

If you had Darrell Taylor as the Bears player having the biggest debut today, then please share your lottery numbers with me tonight so we can split the jackpot. Taylor had 7 solo tackles (8 total), 2 sacks, 2 tackles-for-loss, and 2 quarterback hits. The early returns on that trade are astounding. I’m looking forward to unpacking more from that performance later this week.

The bottom of the NFL roster churn never truly ends. So when a guy like Travis Homer has a game like he did today, you have to take notice. Homer was everywhere on the Soldier Field turf. He had a special teams tackle, a six-yard gain on the ground, and picked up a block in protection. Doing a little bit of everything (and doing it adequately) is an easy way to keep your roster spot in a crowded running backs room.

Three Bears highlights

Simone Biles is officially one of us:

I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK

— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles)

Simon𓆉e Biles watched her husband scoop up a blocked punt and turn it into a touchdown. What a way to welcome an Olympian into the fan base. Nothing says welcome to Bears football wit𒐪h a performance like that!

This is why Jaylon Johnson was paid the big bucks in the offseason:

. seals the deal 🙌

📺: on FOX

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears)

Jaylon dropped one earlier, and you know that was going to eat at him until he got another opportunity. I know it comes off like I’m beating a dead horse around here, but it is worth repeating that development isn’t always linear. That is top of mind as I think about how far Jaylon Johnson has come with his hands. Clearly, the work has paid off for him.

There was a point in this game when special teams highlights were all we had to talk about in the group chat. This DeAndre Carter return gives me hope that the Bears have found a worthwhile fix in the return game…

DeAndre Carter with a 66 yd kick return ⚡️

📺: on FOX

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears)

… because I don’t think it’s coming via Velus Jones Jr. after today’s muffed return opportunity.

How did the three Bears perform?

Matt Eberflus – I have a lot of questions that I’ll be chewing on over the next 24-48 hours when it comes to the Bears head coach. For the second consecutive opener, the Bears came out flat. And just as the Packers did last year, it was the Titans taking advantage of it early. Tennessee isn’t nearly as talented as Green Bay is, which helps explain why Chicago was able to mount and complete a comeback. I suppose Eberflus deserves credit for maintaining a steady hand in the face of adversity. But I’m just saying it should’ve never gotten to that point in the first place.

Caleb Williams – It goes down in the win column, which is all that matters. My spin-zone take here is that maybe it’ll be easier to build up Caleb and the rest of the offense after winning the game as opposed to trying to get guys going after a loss. But I can’t shake how he never truly looked comfortable or got into a rhythm. This is where I wonder if a lack of late preseason reps hurts.

Tremaine Edmunds made one great play in coverage preventing a Titans first down in the second half and I think it was key in sparking the rally. The Bears immediately turned their next offensive possession into a Cairo Santos field goal and kept the momentum rolling in a positive direction. I wish the offense would’ve turned more of those opportunities into touchdowns. But that is a post for another time.

WHAT’S NEXT: Sunda💮y, Sept. 15 — at Houston Texans, 7 p.m. CT

It’ll be a battle of 1-0 teams when the Bears visit the Texans on Sunday Night Football next week.

But for now, let’s enjoy this one:

That's one!

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears)