Caleb Williams likely didn’t anticipate the performance he delivered in his debut with the Chicago Bears. However, he can take comfort in the win.
Williams faced challenges as the Bears’ starting quarterback, having been selected first overall in April’s NFL Draft. Despite his difficulties, the Bears emerged victorious with a 24-17 win on Sunday, largely thanks to impressive defensive and special teams plays.
The Bears entered halftime down 17-3 after struggling offensively in the first half. Their fortunes changed early in the third quarter when they blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 17-10. Following two field goals, Bears capitalized on a pick-six by Titans quarterback Will Levis, giving Chicago a 24-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Tennessee had a chance to level the score late in the game after the Bears punted with 2:20 left on the clock. However, the Bears’ defense held strong, preventing the Titans from scoring and securing the win.
In his NFL debut, Williams completed 14 of 29 passes for 92 yards, averaging 3.2 yards per attempt without any touchdowns or turnovers. He was sacked twice for a total loss of 29 yards. While it was a difficult start against a strong NFL defense, the victory will likely ease concerns about his offensive struggles.
From the outset, Tennessee’s defense was formidable. Chicago’s first drive ended in a punt after gaining only 7 yards across three plays. Despite securing a first down on their second drive, the Bears gained just 3 yards due to penalties and were forced to punt again. Their third drive also culminated in another punt after only 17 yards gained.
Late in the second quarter, trailing 17-0, the Bears finally drove deep into Titans territory, but Williams’ third-down pass attempt from the Tennessee 6-yard line was batted down, resulting in a field goal.
Defensive and special teams contributions propelled Chicago in the second half. After a brief setback on their first possession of the third quarter, the Bears’ defense excelled. They forced the Titans to punt, leading to a pivotal moment. Defensive lineman Daniel Hardy blocked a Titans punt, which was recovered by safety Jonathan Owens, who returned it 21 yards for the Bears’ first touchdown of the season.
Despite these highlight moments, Chicago’s offense continued to struggle, managing only 42 yards across their next three possessions but still managing two field goals due to a Titans fumble that set them up nicely.
The Bears’ defense took control again when cornerback Tyrique Stevenson intercepted a poorly judged pass from Levis near midfield, running it back for a touchdown to give the Bears a 24-17 lead after a successful two-point conversion.
Chicago attempted to secure the win offensively, producing their two longest plays of the game, but the drive faltered and ended with a punt. Tennessee received the ball again with two minutes remaining, but the game was clinched with another interception by Jaylon Johnson.
The Bears finished the game with only 148 total offensive yards, converting just 2 of 13 third downs, while their star receiving trio accounted for 10 catches and 76 yards. Nonetheless, Chicago’s defense, along with special teams contributions, played a crucial role in securing the victory during Williams’ debut. Now, he has a week to refine his skills before the Bears face the Houston Texans in Week 2.