Caleb Williams struggles in Bears debut; Chicago rides on defense and special teams to win over Titans

Caleb Williams certainly didn’t expect these stats in his debut for the Chicago Bears.

But he will accept the outcome.

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 out a 24-17 victory on Sunday, thanks in large part to big plays on defense and special teams.

The Bears entered halftime trailing 17-3 after struggling to move the ball in the first half. But they blocked a punt early in the third quarter and returned it for a touchdown, cutting the gap to 17-10. After two field goals by Chicago, a pick-6 by Titans quarterback Will Levis gave the Bears a 24-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Titans had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth period after the Bears gave up a point with 2:20 left. But Chicago’s defense kept Tennessee out of the end zone to complete the second-half shutout and secure the victory for the Bears.

Caleb Williams’ final line in NFL debut

Williams finished his NFL debut completing 14 of 29 passes for 92 yards. He averaged 3.2 yards per attempt and didn’t throw a touchdown or turnover. He recorded two sacks for a loss of 29 yards. It was a sobering start in Williams’ first real action against an NFL defense. But the win will certainly ease the offense’s struggles considerably.

Tennessee’s defense was determined from the start. Chicago’s first drive ended with a punt after gaining 7 yards on three plays. The Bears picked up a first down on their second drive, but gained only 3 yards on the possession after penalties sent them back and forced another punt. Chicago’s third drive ended with another punt on four plays and 17 yards.

With the Titans leading 17-0 late in the second quarter, the Bears finally put together a drive deep into Tennessee territory. But Williams’ third-down pass attempt from the Tennessee 6-yard line was knocked down at the line, forcing the Bears to settle for a field goal.

Defense and special teams give Chicago second-half win

The Bears then lost 3 yards before punting on their first possession of the second half. That’s when Chicago’s defense and special teams came through. The Bears forced the Titans to punt on their next possession, leading to some special teams heroics.

Defensive lineman Daniel Hardy broke through the Titans line and blocked Ryan Stonehouse’s run on fourth-and-15 from the Tennessee 33-yard line. Safety Jonathan Owens scooped up the ball and returned it 21 yards for Chicago’s first touchdown of the season.

Owens scored the touchdown in his first game for the Bears since joining the Bears from the rival Green Bay Packers during the offseason.

Meanwhile, Chicago’s offense continued to struggle. The Bears mustered 42 total yards on their next three possessions, but managed to convert two field goals, thanks in part to a Titans fumble that put them within field goal range. Next, it was Chicago’s defense’s turn on the scoreboard.

On third-and-6 near midfield, Chicago’s defense pressed a blitz by Levis. He threw an ill-advised swing toward the sideline that cornerback Tyrique Stevenson intercepted at the Tennessee 43-yard line. He ran untouched to the end zone, and the Bears took a 24-17 lead on a two-point conversion.

Chicago then had a chance to decide the game on offense. The Bears recorded their two longest plays of the day with a 14-yard run by DJ Moore and a 19-yard run by D’Andre Swift. But the drive stalled at the Titans’ 44-yard line. The 45-yard drive was Chicago’s longest of the day, but it ended in a point.

Tennessee got the ball back with 2:20 left, but Chicago’s defense came through again, this time with a Jaylon Johnson interception from Levis that secured Chicago’s victory.

The Bears managed just 148 yards of total offense on the day, converting 2 of 13 third-down attempts. Chicago’s vaunted receiving trio of Moore, Keenan Allen and first-round rookie Rome Odunze totaled 10 catches for 76 yards.

But Chicago forced three turnovers and scored on defense and special teams to secure the win in Williams’ debut. Williams now has a week to work on improving before the Bears visit the Houston Texans in Week 2.