LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — Kickoff of a highly anticipated Bears season is near. Chicago will host the Tennessee Titans in its season opener Sunday at noon at Soldier Field.
Here are three storylines to follow in the matchup.
Monumental debut
Bears general manager Ryan Poles recently laid out reasonable expectations for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who will be under the microscope in leading the team.
“I want him to lean on the talent around him,” Poles said. “And then when the time is right – and that’s an instinctual thing and I think that plays right into him – that’s when you do the special, and balancing that.”
That's the objective in Williams’ first NFL season and is especially true for his debut. Poles and the Bears have surrounded Williams with a roster full of talent, including key playmakers on offense.
The 22-year-old Williams is being asked to lead the Bears, though not as a singular force.
The Bears will likely lean heavily on the running game early in the season. That would mean a significant role for running back D’Andre Swift, who joined the Bears on a three-year, $24-million deal in March. When Williams needs to make a play, he'll have reliable targets in receivers DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze as well as tight end Cole Kmet.
Williams has been set up for success in his rookie season. And for his part, Williams understands the objective.
"The wins are the most important thing,” Williams said. “As long as we get that win at the end of the day, 100 yards (or) 400, it’s all the same."
Lofty aspirations
The Bears’ defense has set the goal of being a top-five unit in 2024.
That's a lofty aspiration but not unreasonable. The Bears played at the level of a top-five defense late in the 2023 season and believe in what they can accomplish with another year under their belt.
The Bears’ first test comes Sunday against Titans second-year quarterback Will Levis, who flashed his talent as a rookie. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is responsible for creating a game plan that will fluster the 25-year-old Levis.
“We’re focused on us, honestly,” Eberflus said. “What we do, how we do it and doing it really well. That’s what we’re focused on. We know the people we’re playing against.
“Of course, try to eliminate their strengths and do those things and minimize those, but really just play to our strengths.”
The Titans could be without five-time Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins (knee) on Sunday. If he's out, that will allow the Bears to key in on top receiver Calvin Ridley – whom the Titans signed to a four-year, $92-million deal this offseason – and force Levis to lean on the team’s depth pieces offensively.
The Bears had the NFL's top-ranked rushing defense in 2023, and they're now aiming to contain Titans running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears.
Starting strong
The Bears have made the playoffs just twice in the past 13 seasons. More often than not, they've also failed to start strong.
Since 2013, the Bears have won their season opener just twice (2020 and 2022). That stretch includes home losses to open the season in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2023.
In a gift from the schedule makers, the Bears have a favorable start to this season. There’s a fair chance they open the season 7-2, as I've predicted. That’s because seven of the first nine opponents missed the playoffs last season, and four of those teams (the Panthers, Commanders, Patriots and Cardinals) were the four worst teams in the NFL in 2023.
But nothing can qualify as a fast start for the Bears without a win in the opener Sunday at Soldier Field.
On paper, the Bears are better than the Titans. A 1-0 start would legitimize hopes in Chicago for 2024.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.