5 Significant Stats from the Chicago Bears Pre-Season Victory Over the Buffalo Bills

The Chicago Bears walked away from the weekend with a dominant pre-season victory over the Buffalo Bills, but the final score was far from the most interesting statistic from the game. Here are five important numbers that tell the story of the Bears' performance from Saturday.

• 108

Caleb Williams totaled 108 yards in two drives on Saturday, including an impressive 95-yard passing total on just four completions. Aided significantly by a 42-yard screen pass to D'Andre Swift - which still displayed Williams' athleticism and creativity as a passer - the rookie quarterback seemed poised in the pocket, but still looked to create space behind the line of scrimmage, either by design or on the fly.

Outside of his arm angles and steady footwork, Williams displayed his capability as a rusher and delivered an instinctual 13-yard scramble where he channeled the "Slip N Slide" drill made famous from the debut episode of Hard Knocks. Williams' time with the first-team offense was limited against the Bills, but the first-overall pick displayed confidence with his reads and throws.

• 4.7

From start to finish, the Chicago Bears offensive line played well, exemplified by the offense's impressive 4.7 yards per carry. Establishing the line of scrimmage is a must for any offense, let alone a Shane Waldron-led group that wants to rely on play-action looks, and the Bears were up to the task on Saturday, from the starters to the deep reserves.

Four separate players rushed the ball at least four times against Buffalo, and all ripped off a rush of 10+ yards at least once. The runningbacks that the Bears have on the roster are plenty talented enough in their own right, and behind an offensive line that can consistently displace the line of scrimmage, the Bears could complement Williams with a truly dangerous rushing attack in 2024.

• 2.5

Both Daniel Hardy and rookie Austin Booker recorded 2.5 sacks in Buffalo, leading both teams on Saturday. Finishing the game with eight sacks as a defense (and allowing just one on offense), the Bears won the sack battle handedly. Beyond the punting prowess of Tory Taylor, consistently bringing the QB down behind the line of scrimmage will inevitably do wonders for the offense's starting field position throughout the year.

Many have called for the Bears to look to add another veteran edge rusher in free agency, but general manager Ryan Poles started camp by stating that they want to get a better look at Booker and other young players before searching outside the building for help. Booker's continued growth is a great sign for his development, especially as it pertains to seeing the field as a rookie, and Hardy's production is a strong indication that there are still talented players on this roster who could create serious pressure defensively.

• 3

The Chicago Bears defense kept the Buffalo Bills to just 3 points per half, an impressive metric, especially considering that star quarterback Josh Allen was under center for essentially the entire first quarter. Just as fans have come to expect with coach Matt Eberflus leading the way, the Bears' defense was aggressive and tactical, often dropping into three-deep zone coverages to force shorter passes from the offense.

Even with second and third-stringers, the Bears' defensive scheme was strong from start to finish in Buffalo. Come September, there is real potential that the starting unit can help turn this defense into one of the most stifling across the league. With Eberflus slated to call plays this season once again, the defense is poised to improve even further from their strong finish a season ago.

53

To start the fourth quarter of action, second-year linebacker Micah Baskerville jumped a curl route over the middle of the field and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown. Perhaps the statement play of the game, at least from the defense, Baskerville's score took the Bears' lead to two possessions, a tough deficit to overcome in a preseason contest.

Undrafted rookie Ian Wheeler would go on to tack on two rushing touchdowns to make the final score even more dramatic, but Baskerville essentially had the dagger for the Bills. With great anticipation in coverage and the athletic prowess to finish in the endzone, Baskerville made a case for himself to make the Bears' final roster, and will certainly be playing more in the fall if he can continue to have command over the middle of the defense.