After having one of the best offseasons across the league, the Chicago Bears open the 2024 season at home to take on an unfamiliar opponent in the Tennessee Titans.
Throughout NFL history, these teams have met just 13 times, and the Titans hold a slight advantage over Chicago. Dating back to 1973, the Titans are 7-6 in meetings with the Bears, with their last matchup taking place in the 2020 season.
Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans Game Preview
Having not played each other in years, this game holds a fair amount of uncertainty for both the Bears and Titans. Both teams enter Week 1 with relatively new-looking rosters, and this game will prove a lot about how well each squad handled the offseason.
Chicago’s offseason was rooted in building up its offense, drafting Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick and Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick while also trading for Keenan Allen to round out one of the top wide receiver trios in the league.
The Titans come into 2024 with replacements in key spots. Tennessee moved on from Mike Vrabel, Derrick Henry, and Ryan Tannehill. They now move forward with Brian Callahan, Tony Pollard, and Will Levis.
PFN’s predictions, plus five key stats courtesy of TruMedia, are below.
5 Bears-Titans Stats From TruMedia
Stat: Since 2002, quarterbacks selected with the No. 1 pick are 0-14-1 in their first starts. Coincidentally, the Bears have a quarterback selected with the No. 1 pick making his first start on Sunday.
Analysis: After one of the most lopsided trades in recent NFL history, the Bears ended up with the No. 1 pick in 2024 alongside their own No. 9 pick. Chicago drafted Williams out of USC, making him the first-ever quarterback the Bears have selected with the No. 1 pick. Considering the arsenal of weapons around him, Williams looks to break the losing trend for No. 1 overall picks in their first start.
Stat: DJ Moore ended last season as the second-best wide receiver in the league against a Cover 2 zone defense, accumulating 273 yards and trailing just Tyreek Hill (403) as the best receiver against that coverage. The Titans ran zone defense 71.1% of last season, making for a potential mismatch with Moore.
Analysis: With Williams making his first-ever NFL start, Moore could be a safety blanket for the rookie quarterback, given his ability to succeed against Cover 2 zones. If Shane Waldron can draw up looks for Moore to attack Cover 2, the Bears’ offense could be humming in their season opener.
Stat: The Bears ended last season tied for the league lead in interceptions (22) and are facing second-year quarterback Levis, who ranked 28th in the NFL in passing attempts per game (28.3) and 56th among quarterbacks to make a start in completion percentage (58.4%).
Analysis: As one of the stronger aspects of the Chicago defense, the Bears’ secondary looks to attack one of the less experienced quarterbacks in the league to start the season. Jaylon Johnson enters the year following a big payday, while Tyrique Stevenson looks to build off last season’s promising second half that resulted in four interceptions, 10 passes defended, and two forced fumbles in the final six games.
Stat: Chicago’s rush defense comes into the season following 2023 when they were one of the league’s best against the run. The Bears ended 2023 ranking first in rush yards allowed (1,468), second in rushing touchdowns allowed (8), third in rushes per touchdown (48.5), and fifth in yards per rush (3.8).
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Analysis: As the Bears face off against a Titans offense that lost Derrick Henry in the offseason, Chicago’s run defense could play a major factor in this matchup. Tennessee added Pollard to lead the rushing attack and replace Henry, which will be a tall task. Against the Bears’ run defense, that task could prove to be even taller.
Stat: The Bears’ rushing attack was second in the league last year in rushing yards (2,399), and they face off against a Titans defense that allowed the 13th-most rushing yards to opponents (1,831) in 2023.
Analysis: As Chicago trots out its rookie quarterback this season, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the run game was utilized early and often. After adding running back D’Andre Swift to the backfield this offseason, the Bears’ rushing attack could be even more dynamic than it was in 2023. With a running back committee that consists of Swift, Khalil Herbert, and Roschon Johnson, the Bears’ three-headed rushing attack looks more sound than it did the season prior.
Bears vs. Titans Predictions
David Bearman: Bears
Adam Beasley: Bears
Brian Blewis: Bears
Mike Gambardella: Bears
Jay Morrison: Bears
Dakota Randall: Bears
Dallas Robinson: Bears
Ben Rolfe: Bears
Kyle Soppe: Bears
Dan Tomaro: Bears
Mike Wobschall: Bears
Dakota Zientek: Bears