To say Chicago Bears fans were holding their collective breath would be an understatement. After finally acquiring a highly desired head coach, Bears fans were ready to watch quarterback Caleb Williams debut under the tutelage of first-year head coach Ben Johnson.
With only one NFL season under his belt, the pressure was already on 2024’s first-overall draft pick. Despite it being just a preseason game, while he was on the field, the former USC Trojan gave many fans something they’ve never had at the QB position — hope.
The first drive took off instantly, as quick passes to the tight end tandem of rookie Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet carried the Bears to their 46-yard line. Williams began his evening throwing 4-for-4 for 60 yards before finding wide-open Olamide Zaccheaus for the opening score. The former Washington Commander’s 37-yard breakaway touchdown capped off an awe-inspiring drive, as the Bears blew past Buffalo’s defense to go up 7-0.
In two drives, Williams went 6-for-10 for 107 yards and a touchdown, earning an overall rating of 130.0. Fans could also breathe easy knowing that their offense was now capable of scoring a touchdown on their opening drive. This was something they couldn’t do for the entirety of the 2024 season under timeout-hating former head coach Matt Eberflus.
The second and third-string players in Johnson’s offense kept their collective foot on the gas, as beloved backup quarterback Tyson Bagent got hot as soon as Williams’ night ended. The Shepherd alum started off throwing 3-of-4 for 48 yards before running back Brittain Brown crossed the goal line to double their lead over Buffalo. A pinpoint touchdown pass to Tyler Scott and Ian Wheeler’s first touchdown run since last year’s season-ending injury eventually put the team up by a promising 28-0 at halftime.
Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III also delivered during his time on the field, showcasing his speed and vision after catching three Bagent passes for 49 yards. Through the air, the Bears did something fans have seldom ever seen and consistently delivered with actual protection from their offensive line.
By halftime, Chicago’s quarterbacks combined for 279 passing yards and two touchdowns. This impressive display of talent led many long-suffering Bears fans to take to social media to express their excitement and trust in Johnson and Williams. Even though the contest was merely a preseason game, no one seemed to care. The excitement is officially buzzing in Chicago, and Johnson’s offense and Williams’ execution are solely responsible.
Chicago’s defense didn’t have to deal with 2024 MVP quarterback Josh Allen, but the starters who played were hungry to make an impact after sitting out all of Week 1. Backup quarterback Mike White and his squad went three-and-out to start as Bears fans roared approvingly from the Soldier Field seats.
Defensive lineman Andrew Billings ensured that the defensive line’s dominance from Week 1 carried over, delivering the team’s first sack on the evening. Austin Booker would deck White in the backfield with a sack of his own on the following possession, continuing his excellent preseason with the fans in full support.
The defense didn’t flash anything particularly spectacular in the first 30 minutes besides their defensive line for the second straight week. Complaining about the unit’s performance when the Bills were held scoreless at halftime, however, would be foolish.
Buffalo’s offense had no answers for the Bears’ defense on third down, going 0-for-5 in the first half. The Kansas City Chiefs’ towel boys also didn’t help themselves in the penalty department. The Bills were flagged a whopping ten times for 96 yards in the game, often killing their progress downfield when Chicago didn’t.
The “Peanut Punch” fumble and recovery from linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga and rookie defensive end Xavier Carlton was the perfect representation of Buffalo’s night offensively. That turnover also occurred, appropriately, while general manager Brandon Beane was being interviewed live on the air during his team’s third-quarter turnover.
Cairo Santos remained perfect in the preseason, going 5-for-5 on extra points and nailing a 40-yard field goal in the third quarter. Kickoff coverage also looked significantly better, preventing the Bills from having 30–40-yard returns like Miami did in the August opener. While wide receiver Tyler Scott muffed the opening kickoff for the team, the offense’s stellar 92-yard opening touchdown drive quickly helped fans forget about the blunder. Should the unit keep performing like so, Bears fans will have nothing to worry about with special teams headed into 2025. Don’t worry, guys … Cody Parkey is long gone.
While Bears’ players and fans were enjoying their monstrous lead heading into halftime, Ben Johnson was shown scowling on the sidelines, taking nothing for granted. Thank God. After years of soul-crushing losses, nonexistent offenses, and sheer disappointment, it’s great to see a Bears coach run a tough camp and always demand the most from his guys.
Hopefully, this mindset carries over to Williams, who gave Bears fans enough ammo (for now) to tell the other 31 fanbases to eat crow and shut up about their QB. Yes, this was only a preseason game, but it was just about as perfect a preseason game that Da Bears could have hoped for.
All guns were firing, no positions or units appeared weak, and fans massively approved of Caleb Williams’ performance with his starting squad. Should the starters be able to deliver throughout the regular season as the team did Sunday night, it could be a very special season in the Windy City.
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