Caleb Williams never expected to have such a performance in his debut with the Chicago Bears.
But he will accept the consequences.
Williams struggled in his first game as the Bears’ starting quarterback after being selected first overall in April’s NFL draft, but the Bears pulled away with a 24-17 victory on Sunday thanks in large part to big plays on defense and special teams.
The Bears struggled to move the ball in the first half and trailed 17-3 by halftime, but blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown early in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 17-10. After two Chicago field goals, Titans quarterback Will Revis threw an interception-six to give the Bears a 24-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Titans had a chance to tie the score late in the fourth quarter after the Bears punted with 2:20 left, but Chicago’s defense kept Tennessee out of the end zone and shut out the entire second half to seal the win for the Bears.
Caleb Williams’ final line in his NFL debut
In his NFL debut, Williams completed 14 of 29 passes for 92 yards, averaging 3.2 yards per pass with no touchdowns or turnovers. He was sacked twice for a loss of 29 yards. It was a tough start for Williams in his first real game against an NFL defense, but this win will certainly ease the offense’s struggles.
Tennessee’s defense was solid from the start. Chicago’s first drive ended in a punt after gaining seven yards on three plays. The Bears gained a first down on their second drive, but only gained three yards on that possession as they were pushed back by a penalty and forced to punt again. Chicago’s third drive ended in a punt again after gaining 17 yards on four plays.
With the Titans leading 17-0 late in the second quarter, the Bears finally drove deep into Tennessee territory, but a third-down pass by Williams from the Tennessee 6-yard line was batted down at the line, forcing the Bears to settle for a field goal.
Defense and special teams determine Chicago’s win in the second half
The Bears then lost three yards before punting on their first possession of the second half, after which Chicago’s defense and special teams came into play, forcing the Titans to punt on their next possession, and the special teams play was a big hit.
Defensive lineman Daniel Hardy broke through the Titans’ line to block a Ryan Stonehouse punt on fourth down and 15 from the Tennessee 33. Safety Jonathan Owens picked it off and returned it 21 yards for Chicago’s first touchdown of the season.
Owens scored a touchdown in his first game since joining the Bears from the rival Green Bay Packers in the offseason.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s offense continued to struggle. The Bears gained just 42 total yards on their next three attempts, but a Titans fumble put them in field goal range and they made two field goals. Then Chicago’s defense started to score.
On third down and six near midfield, Chicago’s defense pressured Revis’ rushing charge, and he shoved the ball toward the sideline where cornerback Tyriq Stevenson intercepted it at the Tennessee 43-yard line. He ran untouched to the end zone and the Bears converted the two-point conversion to take a 24-17 lead.
Chicago then had a chance to win the game on offense. The Bears recorded their two longest plays of the day, a 14-yard run by DJ Moore and a 19-yard run by D’Andre Swift, but the drive was stalled at the Titans’ 44-yard line. A 45-yard drive, Chicago’s longest of the day, ended in a punt.
Tennessee got the ball back with 2:20 left in the game, but Chicago’s defense again came up short, this time with Jaylon Johnson intercepting a Revis pass to seal the win for Chicago.
The Bears had just 148 yards of total offense on the day, including just 2 of 13 third-down attempts. Chicago’s vaunted receiver trio of Moore, Keenan Allen and first-round draft pick Rome Odunze combined for 76 yards on 10 catches.
But Chicago forced three turnovers and scored on defense and special teams to secure the win for Williams in his debut. Williams will have a week of practice to improve before the Bears visit the Houston Texans in Week 2.
