The start of the NFL season is like Christmas morning. Fans get to rush their TVs instead of a tree and instead of unwrapping presents, the ideas of what possibly could happen is finally revealed. While it will be a long season, what are some things Chicago Bears fans can immediately take away from their week one matchup with the Tennesee Titans?
Is Nate Davis rusty or ready for a bounce-back season?
Nate Davis has mostly been a disappointment since the Bears signed him. A lot of that is health-related, and some of it is even family-related, so it is hard to blame him too much. However, if you recall in week one of last season, Davis was a huge reason why the team was so poor on offense.
He missed too much of the offseason and came out flat. This year, he still missed a huge chunk of the offseason, but he has been healthy and practicing over the last couple of weeks.
So, there is no excuse for him getting off to a slow start like last year, and if he does start slow, he has to be looking over his shoulder to see if Ryan Bates is coming.
What adds a twist is that he will be seeing plenty of Jefferey Simmons, who can be a gamewrecker. Simmons used to square off with Davis in practice, so he knows him well. Will he dominate Davis in the way that Kenny Clark did last year, or will Davis hold up against a tough front and show that this is a new year?
Is Jaylon Johnson going to repeat his All-Pro season?
The odds of Jaylon Johnson repeating his last season are hard. Johnson has always been a quality cornerback, and there was a case to be made that he was due for a lot of the ball-hawking plays that he made. Still, he went from one interception in three seasons to four interceptions last year, with one being a pick-six.
That is a lot of positive regression. He may not finish with four interceptions, but he should still look like a high-end cornerback. We will see just how good he looks with a fresh new contract against a Titans group that is revamped.
Johnson will see plenty of DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley. Of the two. Hopkins plays more of a style that plays into the hands of Johnson. Johnson is not as strong against the shiftier receivers who can run double moves and make him break over the middle of the field.
However, not many are better as a physical zone cornerback down the sideline. Johnson should have a solid game, and Hopkins should be neutralized. If not, it may be a regression season down to who he was in the first few seasons.
Is the game too big for Caleb Williams?
To be fair, I think a lot of people know the answer to this one. Still, there is always the anticipation for the big reveal of what a rookie will do with his first chances in the NFL. The game does not look too big for Williams, but the preseason is completely different than the regular season.
This will be the first time that we see Willams against a real NFL defense looking to shut him down. We have hardly seen any rookie mistakes and it is hard to think of what he will do to mess up in his rookie debut. That is a weird spot to be in.
So, there is so much that Bears fans will learn, but it will not take long to see if he has it factor or not. Even if the game is too big and he struggles in his debut, it is not the end of the world. However, if he comes out on fire and looks like a veteran, the Bears have to be smiling regardless of the outcome on Sunday.
Were the Chicago Bears hiding D’Andre Swift in the preseason?
One of the more interesting cases in the preseason was the usage of D’Andre Swift. Swift was signed like a big-time addition in free agency and you would assume he has a huge role in the offense. However, when the big names such as Caleb Williams, D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze all played in the preseason, the team limited how often Swft played, and they mixed Khalil Herbert in with this group.
So, there are two thoughts. First, Swift will be a part-time player and they will not want to use him much. He will split time with Herbert. Or, the Bears have a serious plan for Swift and do not want anyone to see anything. They have him completely hidden and will unleash him this week.
When Swift did play in the preseason, he produced an explosive reception. There is a real chance that they said they saw enough and that he will be a key element early in the season. What will it be?
Is the hype around Gervon Dexter real?
This has to be one of the more anticipated second-year players in a while. The team is all-in on Gervon Dexter as they have limited depth along the interior, and while Andrew Billings is an asset, pass rushing is his worst trait. Meanwhile, Dexter is a better pass rusher than a run defender at this point.
The Bears are going to be relying heavily on Dexter as a pass rusher this season. This is another situation where he likely either has it or he does not. It will not be about sacks or pressures, but more about whether can he get off of the football quickly or not. If he looks slow out of his stance, and he is a liability in the run game, it is hard to see him turn it on over the course of the year.
If he at least flashes in both areas fans have to think that the upside and potential that will bring this unit together actually is there. The expectations are high, but the Bears must have put him in this spot for a reason. The reveal of Gervon Dexter will be so fascinating.