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.
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.