The Bears secured a 24-17 victory against the Tennessee Titans. Despite a shaky performance, they managed to pull off the win even as the offense struggled. Here are my three big takeaways from their Week 1 comeback.
Culture has changed
One of the key takeaways from this win happened off the field—on the sidelines and in the locker room. At no point did the Bears panic. Even at halftime, they believed in themselves. Every player stayed positive and supported each other. Head coach Matt Eberflus and his revamped staff showed they could make adjustments, and they certainly delivered in the second half. Though it’s only Week 1, this 1-0 start feels different. After the game, Jaylon Johnson walked behind Caleb Williams during his interview and said, “We got you,” showcasing the team’s unity. This resilience isn’t something you see in every NFL team. It’s a strong start and a testament to the culture this new regime has built over the past three years.
Bears defense might be Super Bowl level
The Bears defense dominated the second half, shutting out the Titans and allowing zero points. Their strong performance, along with a crucial special teams play—a blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Johnathan Owens—kept the Bears in the game. After that, the defense smelled blood and completely rattled Titans QB Will Levis. This unit confirmed that the high expectations from practice and training camp were justified. Calling the Bears a Super Bowl-caliber defense after Week 1 might seem like an overreaction, but it feels fitting based on their performance. Their next big test comes on Sunday Night Football, when they’ll face the Houston Texans and star QB C.J. Stroud, a team the Bears are aiming to emulate.
Caleb Williams will need some time
Caleb Williams had a tough NFL debut, but the silver lining is that things can only improve from here. The Bears offensive struggles weren’t solely his fault, but it’s clear that Williams will need time to find his rhythm. Whether it takes four or even eight games, the team has built a solid foundation that can support a rookie quarterback as he grows. After the game, Williams took responsibility, praising his teammates for their perseverance while acknowledging he needs to improve—and promising that he will.
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The rookie quarterback may need more time to develop, but I believe in him and think this Bears team will become very dangerous as the season goes on.
@Slip Knotz It would have absolutely helped Caleb’s case if Allen didn’t drop that easy TD, in the same way it would’ve helped Justin Fields if Robert Tonyan hadn’t dropped a 55-yard strike Fields threw him in the Browns game last year, one of two awful plays that cost Chicago a win. (The other play being when Eberflus decided, for some goddamn reason, to drop a 300-pound DT into coverage on TE David Njoku, who runs a 4.6 40.) The people who write for this site, and many of those who comment on it, set the following standards last year:… Read more »
Is the Titans D line really good or is the Bear’s O line really that bad? They looked bad and I think Caleb would have had a better first outing had the line held up better. He was under constant pressure right up the middle so much it looked really sad like the Center position actual regressed from last year which seems impossible.
Would help Caleb if Kennan Allen doesn’t drop a TD and the KR doesn’t fumble to put the opponent up two scores.
@Tred @barry_mccockiner You two were the most cautious and correct commenters about most things here, as with the too high of expectations for Caleb and that “mediocre” OL. Grades:
Tred = A; Barry = A-. Hyenas = F or F- (to be decided).
@Barry: Personally, I didn’t post a prediction for Caleb’s day, because it would have been pretty low and I would have taken too much heat for it. My guess was 140 yards passing, 1 TD, 1 pick. I anticipated that he’d have rookie struggles, and that Justin Simmons would collapse pockets against the Bears so-so IOL, causing problems. That was pretty accurate. Caleb, IMO, is certainly not pro-ready, but he has the potential to be a top shelf QB. Now it’s up to him (and the coaches) to make it happen. I’d remind you of another young QB, drafted first… Read more »