CHICAGO — Chicago Bears fanatics packed Soldier Farmland hoping to peer one thing brandnew. One thing particular. The beginning of a brandnew presen.
Rather, they were given a rerun. A throwback recreation. A excellent out of date “Da Bears” slobberknocker. However no less than a regular finishing used to be additionally a contented one.
The Bears received their opener — 24-17 over the Tennessee Titans — at the back of a time-tested components of protection, particular groups and completely refuse offense.
It wasn’t splendid, however for the primary recreation of a brandnew season … no matter works, proper?
GO DEEPER
Bears protection, particular groups glimmer in comeback
Caleb Williams’ much-anticipated NFL debut used to be a rocky one, even though that’s by no means extraordinary for a rookie quarterback creation an opener. The ultimate month a quarterback drafted Deny. 1 received his NFL debut used to be in 2002. The ultimate 15 of them went 0-14-1.
I assumption the ones alternative 15 groups didn’t have the Bears’ opportunistic protection and particular groups.
“Obviously, great to get this first win,” Williams stated. “We’re all excited. We went to the locker room to celebrate, and I sat down and enjoyed the moment, just watching all the guys celebrate, understanding that I need to be better, I will be better.”
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Williams went 14-of-29 for 93 yards and took a 19-yard loss on a sack. His longest crowning glory used to be for 13 yards. He seemed extra like Craig Krenzel with an illicit recreation than the second one coming of Sid Luckman, however he didn’t throw an interception or lose a fumble. If Williams had made one weighty mistake, the Bears more than likely would have misplaced. However he didn’t they usually didn’t.
Nearest a recreation by which the Bears offense netted 148 yards and refuse touchdowns, Williams met a packed interview room with a grin and a skip in his step. Sure, he used to be sinister Sunday, however refuse, he wasn’t rattled by means of the velocity of his first actual NFL recreation.
“I saw things well,” he stated. “A few passes out there may have been dropped, may have been missed. I think it was just miscues. The speed of the game, I wouldn’t say it affected or changed much.”
“I don’t think there was any anxiety,” Bears lecturer Matt Eberflus stated. “He was calm, cool and collected the whole time. Never got frustrated. We always talk to him about the response you have of just hanging in there, because sometimes it can get rough on both sides. It can get rough. You’ve just got to hang in there. You’ve got to have that belief — the belief in the man next to you, belief in your teammates. It’s not just about one guy. That’s what I saw at halftime. They exhibited that the second half.”
All in regards to the reaction pic.twitter.com/pmmcca4ee4
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 8, 2024
All over the sport, Williams threw a couple of too many passes at his receivers’ ft or neatly while their palms. There used to be refuse pixie mud on his deep ball. Now and again he seemed clean extending performs by means of rolling out, however no person used to be evident.
Nonetheless, he by no means seemed spooked. Something I consider about Williams is that he believes he’s the person. It’s no longer fraudelant self belief, both. Some public hide their insecurities with angle. That’s no longer Williams. You’ll be able to see why Bears common supervisor Ryan Poles temporarily discovered he used to be their man at Deny. 1.
However he’s nonetheless a rookie taking part in probably the most tough place in sports activities. The Bears received regardless of him, and that’s fantastic for now. Then era, at the highway towards the Houston Texans, you’ll be expecting extra. And extra the after era and the era then that. That’s how this works.
With this protection, the Bears are constructed to win this season, and Williams needs to be a significant factor to manufacture it occur. On the very least, he can’t be why they lose. In his first recreation, no person must have anticipated excess from him. As for the Bears’ veteran-laden protection? You’ll be able to be expecting away.
Chicago grabs a pick-six and takes the govern within the fourth
@NFL | @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/mxbc4oP6RR
— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) September 8, 2024
When used to be the ultimate month the Bears received a recreation with out scoring an offensive landing? Uh, ultimate November when Cairo Santos kicked 4 garden objectives in a 12-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Sunday, Santos had 3 garden objectives, with a 48- and 50-yarder in the second one half of.
Nearest give up two touchdowns within the first half of, Eberflus’ protection pitched a second-half shutout age harassing Titans quarterback Will Levis to the music of 127 yards passing, two interceptions and a misplaced fumble. Williams were given a “what not to do” instructional from his peer. Tennessee’s second-half force chart gave the impression of this: opposed punt (landing), punt, punt, fumble, interception (landing), punt, interception.
“We know we’re a dominant defense,” stated cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who clinched the sport with that ultimate interception.
Ailing 17-3, the Bears’ first landing got here on a opposed punt within the 3rd quarter. Daniel Hardy were given the ban, and Jonathan Owens completed the play games with a scoop and a ranking. Within the fourth quarter, trailing 17-16, Chicago were given its alternative landing when Levis threw an ill-advised cross beneath duress that discovered the ready palms of Tyrique Stevenson, who took it 43 yards.
“We’re a team full of dogs,” Stevenson stated. “At some point, it’s going to be the offense helping us out.”
I’ve heard that quote a month or 3 from a Bears defensive participant prior to, however this month possibly it’s true. It could hurry a couple of weeks. Possibly longer. However Williams and the offense can be why this group wins video games this season.
For now, the Bears are a defense-first group. Similar because it ever used to be. There’s one thing comforting within the regular, even if you wish to have to peer one thing other.
Williams’ six-week coaching camp used to be hellish every now and then due to the D, which by no means let up on him in follow and let him listen about it. With that have seared into his head, he stated he predicted Stevenson’s interception from the bench.
“It was awesome to be able to watch that,” he stated. “I kinda lost my voice at the end of the game cheering on our guys.”
(Photograph: Quinn Harris / Getty Photographs)
