4 Chicago Bears keys to success vs. Tennessee Titans Week 1

The NFL's first Sunday is finally here and the new-look Chicago Bears are preparing to open the year at Soldier Field and debut a lot of talent in rookies Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, as well as veteran newcomers Keenan Allen, D'Andre Swift, and Kevin Byard.

Byard - as well as Nate Davis, Khari Blasingame, and DeMarcus Walker - will be looking for revenge against his old squad in the Tennessee Titans, but to escape week one with a win against a talented AFC South squad, the Bears will need to play smart football despite all the newness on the roster. With that said, here are four keys to success that the Chicago Bears must achieve to start the season in the win column:

1) Keep Caleb Williams Upright on Offense

Last season, the Chicago Bears allowed the seventh most sacks around the league with 50, or roughly 3 per game, but a lot has changed in just one offseason. The addition of Caleb Williams provides an entirely different sense of timing from within the pocket, and the young quarterback's rhythm may keep him out of more trouble compared to the Bears a year ago.

Looking at the offensive line, the bookend tackles - Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones - have another offseason under their belt, and the interior of the line seems to have been ironed out significantly, with Coleman Shelton and Ryan Bates joining the fold and Nate Davis set to enjoy a healthier campaign than in 2023.

Protecting the rookie quarterback from a talented Titans' defensive line led by Jeffery Simmons (21.5 sacks since 2021) is imperative for the offense's success. If Williams can get into a rhythm and stay away from constant pressure, the first-overall pick will likely enjoy an impressive debut performance.

2) Prevent Big Plays on Defense

Defensively, the Bears have built a strong unit under head coach Matt Eberflus, and against the Titans, the unit will play well if they can keep the ball in front of them. The Titans have gone through a bit of an offensive rebranding, swapping out Derrick Henry for former Cowboy Tony Pollard while adding DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley to the wide receiver group.

It's yet to be seen how all of these players, alongside third-year receiver Treylon Burks, will mesh with sophomore quarterback Will Levis, but the big play potential is definitely present, both in the backfield and outside the hash marks. Last season, the Titans finished in the bottom quarter of the league in offensive plays over 20 yards, so explosive plays will likely be on Tennessee's mind against the Bears.

Eberflus's zone concepts out of base or nickel formations usually allow the defense to keep the action in front of them (think "bend don't break"), but week one allows an offensive opponent to get into packages and formations that the defense might not be expecting. If the linebackers and safeties can stay in position behind the defensive line, the Bears will be in a good position to limit the Titans' big play abilities from the get-go.