The Bears kick off their home opener this Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, entering the game as 3.5-point favorites—a position they’re not often in. Here are my three bold predictions for this Week 1 matchup.
Jaylon Johnson shines
I think the Bears defense will give Will Levis and the Titans offense a lot of trouble, but the biggest challenge for Levis will likely be facing star cornerback Jaylon Johnson. My first bold prediction is that Johnson will intercept Levis twice in this game. I expect Johnson to bait Levis into some throws and make key plays, much like he did last season.
D’Andre Swift starts off hot
The Bears made a quick first move in free agency by signing running back D’Andre Swift. I believe this decision will pay off right from Week 1, as I expect Swift to have a significant role in both the running and passing game. My prediction is that Swift will gain over 100 all-purpose yards against the Titans in the opener.
Caleb Williams struggles early
Maybe I’m just hoping for the opposite, because trust me, I want the Bears to blow the doors off Tennessee. However, I think Caleb Williams might struggle early on, possibly in the first quarter or even the whole first half, since he’s still a rookie. It could be similar to his slow start against the Bengals, where there were communication issues with his helmet. But I do believe that at some point, Williams and the offense will find their rhythm and take control. While I expect a slow start, the talent will eventually shine and electrify Soldier Field.
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Final Score Prediction
Bears 24 Titans 17
While the player predictions were pretty accurate, the score was spot on so I can’t argue with that.
The last rookie QB to win in Week 1 was Sam Darnold with the Jets in 2018, while the last #1 overall to win a season opener was David Carr in 2002. Caleb stands to make history in many ways this year with the Bears. Besides hopefully winning the first game of his rookie season, Williams could become the first Bears QB to throw for 4,000 yards or 30 TDs. And if by some miracle the Bears not only make the playoffs (more plausible now that GB’s Love is hurt), if CW were to lead them to the Super Bowl… Read more »
Once again: I am expecting 350 yards of passing output from QB1, and for that output to lead directly to a win. It is game number one for our generational quarterback and I’m excited to watch him sling it.
Do not let DT Simmons touch Caleb!