It’s been years since Bears fans have had a reason to give a damn about a preseason game. Usually, Soldier Field in August is just a glorified training camp scrimmage with overpriced beer and some undrafted rookie trying to play his way onto the practice squad.
But Sunday night against the Bills? Different story.
Ben Johnson’s confirmed that all Bears starters will play — Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, D’Andre Swift, the whole offensive line circus, even the first-team defense (minus the injured corners). This is the first time we’ll see the new-look Bears at full strength under the lights, and Johnson’s basically said screw it, we’re going live.
That’s bold. That’s risky. And honestly? That’s exactly what this team needs.
Johnson’s “Reps, Reps, Reps” Philosophy
Johnson’s reasoning is crystal: this roster is new, the coaching staff is new, and they need real game reps to build trust. Practice is fine. Joint practices are useful. But nothing replaces actual game speed with fans screaming and an opponent who’s trying to hit you in the mouth.
He’s been clear — the joint practice with Buffalo on Friday is going to be the barometer. If that session is high-intensity and clean, maybe some starters get fewer snaps. But right now, the plan screams meaningful minutes for the first unit.
And honestly? He’s right. The Bears skipped playing starters in the preseason opener against Miami, but ran them through a brutal 70+ play workout behind closed doors. That was basically a message: “We’re still going to work you. You just won’t get the crowd noise.”
Sunday is the real test.
Historical Patterns Say: Expect a Quarter, Maybe More
Here’s the thing: NFL history says second preseason games are when coaches start letting the starters actually get some traction. Back in 2019, starters in Week 1 of preseason averaged just 23.6% of snaps — by Week 2, most doubled that.
Recent trends:
- 1-2 series in Game 1,
- A full quarter or more in Game 2.
For quarterbacks, that usually means 15-25 snaps. Patrick Mahomes played 18 in his second preseason game last year. Bo Nix played 19. Both had around 12-14 pass attempts.
If Johnson follows that model, Caleb Williams is looking at 2-3 drives minimum, maybe bleeding into the second quarter if they’re trying to work specific concepts.
Caleb Williams: Let’s Be Real, This Is the Big One
Forget the “it’s just preseason” crowd. This game matters for Caleb.
This will be his first real-time NFL action with his actual weapons, not a scout-team mishmash. He’ll have:
- DJ Moore
- Rome Odunze
- Olamide Zaccheaus
- D’Andre Swift
- Cole Kmet
- Colston Loveland
- Luther Burden III
- The actual starting O-line (left tackle still TBD in that dogfight battle)
That’s the core group he’s going to war with Week 1. He needs timing with them. He needs to feel what it’s like reading an NFL defense live, not just in controlled joint-practice drills.
If you think Johnson is just going to hand Williams a vanilla play sheet, you’re nuts. Expect at least a few intermediate throws and maybe one deep shot to Odunze or Moore — just to put something on tape and get that chemistry flowing.
The Risk vs. Reward Debate
Now, this is where the fanbase splits.
Risk side:
- You’re one awkward hit away from losing your QB or top weapon for the season.
- The NFL has been trending toward not playing starters — last year, 14 teams didn’t even trot out their starting QB through two preseason games.
- If the Bills decide to bring pressure (and Sean McDermott is the type to test your protection), there’s real injury potential.
Reward side:
- A young team learning a new system needs reps more than bubble wrap.
- You can’t simulate the speed of a real game.
- Williams and Johnson need live bullets to build trust and flow.
Johnson is basically telling the league he’s picking development over caution. That’s a gutsy call — especially in a city where QB injuries are as common as bad pizza takes.
The Defense: Shorthanded but Hungry
Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are out, which means the Bears secondary will be patchwork.
That’s actually good for evaluation purposes — we’ll see how the rest of the DB room handles themselves against Josh Allen’s chaos-ball style. And because the starters in the secondary are thin, don’t be shocked if Johnson keeps the front-seven starters out there longer than usual to stabilize things.
Players to watch on defense:
- Tremaine Edmunds vs. his old team — even in preseason, that matchup has some juice.
- The pass rush rotation — can Montez Sweat generate pressure early, or will Buffalo’s O-line keep Allen clean?
- Depth corners — who steps up to avoid getting torched?
Game Flow Prediction
Here’s my realistic snap-count crystal ball:
First Quarter: Starters play the full quarter. Williams gets 2-3 drives. Offense works through scripted plays and at least one deep shot.
Second Quarter: If drives in the first were quick three-and-outs, some starters bleed into Q2. If they sustained drives, expect early substitutions.
Defense: Front-seven plays through most of the first quarter, secondary rotations get messy due to current injuries of Gordon and JJ.
After Halftime: Pure evaluation mode for backups, camp bubble guys get extended looks.
Why This Matters More Than the Scoreboard
I don’t care if the Bears win 24-10 or lose 31-3 — preseason scores mean nothing.
What matters is:
- Does Caleb Williams look like he belongs?
- Can the O-line hold up against a real pass rush?
- Are the receivers separating consistently?
- Can the front-seven make life hard for an elite QB, even in vanilla schemes?
If the answer to those is “yes,” that’s a win.
If it’s “hell no” and Williams is running for his life… buckle up, because Week 1’s going to be ugly.
Final Verdict
A lot of coaches would protect their starters like they’re made of glass and Ben did that for Week 1 but now... he's rolling the dice.
It’s risky, sure. But it’s also refreshing to see a coach who’s not scared of his own shadow. The Bears aren’t going to get better by hiding from live reps.
Sunday night is more than just a preseason game. It’s a measuring stick. And for the first time in a long time, Bears fans have a real reason to watch every snap.
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