HOUSTON -- The Chicago Bears snatched victory from the jaws of defeat last Sunday at Soldier Field. The anemic offense couldn't get anything going against a stout Tennessee Titans front, but some electric special teams and defense allowed Chicago to escape 1-0.
Trying to get right tonight, on Sunday Night Football, in Houston against a juggernaut Texans team wasn't going to be an easy task. The storylines surrounding this game were juicy:
- Houston's miracle win over Indianapolis in Week 17 of the 2022 season gave the Bears the #1 pick.
- With the opportunity to take a good QB in C.J. Stroud, they traded that pick to Carolina for a landfall of assets.
- Chicago got the #1 overall pick again this season via the Panthers, and took someone lauded as a generational prospect in Caleb Williams.
They met tonight.
Undoubtedly a tough matchup for Chicago in the early going for a rookie QB against a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations -- in their home opener in prime time. And in the end, the Bears turned in an offensive clusterfuck for the ages in a disgusting 19-13 loss to the Texans.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on Twitter (or X, I guess) @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1. (PREGAME) -- One week in and the Bears aren't that healthy all of a sudden. A large injury report -- headlined by Ryan Bates going on IR, and WR Keenan Allen being inactive. Not great. The good news is Rome Odunze - who suffered an MCL sprain last week - will give it a go.
Notice another major name on there?
2. Good start for Caleb Williams on the Bears' first offensive possession. He found DeAndre Carter and DJ Moore on third downs to move the chains and set up a FG to tie it at 3-3 after Houston opened the game with a FG. He looked composed, in rhythm, and more importantly, accurate. The throw to Carter was a beauty.
The challenge for the Bears is their offensive line is failing to get any push in the running game. D'Andre Swift was met three times on that opening drive in the backfield or LOS. That's not good. They need the run game to be a supporting component for Williams.
3. Nico Collins has been unguardable in the first quarter tonight. He's beaten Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson routinely. He's an incredible football player and quickly ascending to one of the best WRs in the game. He beat the entire Bears' secondary to open the second quarter with a 28-yard touchdown grab from CJ Stroud.
4. A three and out to follow from the offense (OL struggled again).
When Houston took over, a 3rd and 7 dime from Stroud to Stefon Diggs for 21 yards moved the chains. And Matt Eberflus threw one of the worst challenges I've seen from a head coach. Not sure who supplied him that information...
Just given how things are going so far... current thoughts:
5. I officially have concerns about Shane Waldron. From choosing to go shotgun on 4th and short, to continuing to not use Shane Waldron, to not using power concepts in the run game when the zone stuff isn't working... woof. I am not impressed so far. Also, the OL has been absolutely terrible.
6. CALEB WILLIAMS putting the Bears on his back in his first ever road start. Overcame three bad false starts from OL to get the Bears into the end zone before the end of the first half. He's been damn impressive. 13-10 Houston with 32 seconds left in the first half.
Alas, the defense fell victim to an insane (non but still called) Nico Collins catch to set up a 59-yard field goal from Ka'imi Fairbairn to make it 16-10 at the half. But the Bears get the ball after halftime.
<HALFTIME>
7. Not much happening on offense (run game is an unmitigated disaster) the first 7 minutes of the third quarter, but the Bears' defense escaped potential disaster when Stroud's beautiful scramble drill and dime to Tank Dell -- who got behind the whole defense -- was lost in the lights. That had TD written all over it with his speed. But overall, Eberflus has adjusted and is making things a little tougher on Stroud. Bears get the ball back with ~9 minutes left in the third quarter down 16-10.
8. Terrible, terrible sequence. Caleb threw a brutal pass across the field and got picked (though a defensive hold wiped it out). But he got ROCKED on the play. Next play, he gets popped on the sideline. And on 3rd and 1, he held the ball on a quick play and got slammed by Will Anderson Jr. Three major hits to Williams on that drive that resulted in no points. Brutal.
9. After a hold wiped out a pick on the last drive, Caleb threw his first career interception on the ensuing drive. A 3rd and 14 deep shot to DJ Moore (who had a step) was underthrown and Derek Stingley picked it off. Great play and a throw Caleb just needs to start making. He's been pretty poor with his deep accuracy through seven season quarters... Still 16-10 Texans at the end of three quarters tonight.
10. After another majestic escape by Stroud led to a big play and another big FG from Fairbairn to make it 19-10, Caleb escaped a sack but threw a brutal INT (three white jerseys near Cole Kmet). Feels like a back-breaker. After a good first half, Caleb has been terrible in the second half.
11. Andrew Billings shoutout. He's fantastic.
12. The Bears should be very concerned about the state of their offense. They're undisciplined, confused, can't block, and have no answers to anything. Shane Waldron has been a disaster in his first two games, the OL has been terrible, and frankly Caleb Williams melted down in the second half. The defense is the only reason this game was even semi-close. But it's clear, this team just isn't ready.
On another note - I have legitimate concerns for Caleb Williams' long-term health here... this OL is an unmitigated disaster and has been completely worked on every play, it feels like. He's taken a beating and this is just not sustainable.
13. The Bears head back on the road next week to take on another AFC South opponent -- the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts lost a brutal game to Malik Willis and the Green Bay Packers today to fall to 0-2. The Bears' defense should make life difficult for Anthony Richardson. But I truly have no idea what to expect from this offense except for pain. There is nothing -- I mean nothing -- to hang the Bears' heads on... So, home field advantage?
Early prediction: Colts 17, Bears 16
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