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

3) Win Field Position on Special Teams

Special teams are all about scoring points and gaining field position, and the latter will be greatly influenced by rookie punter Tory Taylor. With a formidable defense and a potentially explosive offense, success in the kicking game will aid both units greatly throughout the contest, especially if the former Hawkeye can pin the Titans deep into their own territory.

In his final collegiate season, Taylor landed over a third of his punts inside the 20, allowing the talented Hawkey defense to start with great field position. If Taylor can continue to pin the offenses deep, the Bears' pass rush will feel even that much more suffocating, and defensive backs would theoretically have to cover for shorter periods of time due to a quicker pass rush with a shorter field.

On the other hand, returners Velus Jones Jr. and DeAndre Carter are tasked with giving the Bears' offense a good starting field position. Throughout the infancy of the NFL season, the new kickoff procedures have produced the same, if not lower, chances for a return, but Jones's average kick return yards of 27.4 yards throughout his career might entice him to give the unit chances throughout the game.

4) Win the Turnover Battle as a Team

Last season, the Bears' defense was exceptional at getting the ball back, finishing the season with a league-high 22 interceptions. With Kevin Byard now manning the free safety position and increased talent across the defensive line, the defense has a good shot to replicate or even improve upon their success in '23.

Offensively, the Bears have to be conservative with the ball, something that Williams had mixed results with in college. As a passer, the former Heisman winner threw just 14 interceptions over three seasons, but as a senior, Williams had somewhat of a fumbling problem, coughing the ball up 16 times that season alone. Williams will need to continue to make smart decisions as a passer while protecting the ball at the mesh point in the run game and when he is facing pressure in the backfield.

Special teams also have an impact on the final turnover numbers, and the Bears kicking unit will need to avoid putting the ball on the ground in the return game. Jones Jr has not fumbled the ball in over a year, and Carter has lost only two fumbles throughout his entire career. Still, fully catching the ball is the returner's primary objective, and if the Bears can avoid needlessly putting the ball on the ground, the group may be in line for a good outcome against Tennessee.