After a shocking win by the Chicago Bears against the Tennessee Titans, there’s plenty to overreact about. It wasn’t a pretty win in Soldier Field on Sunday, but wins on season records don’t always come with context. So, even though Chicago begins its season undefeated, here are some overreactions floating across the Windy City on Victory Monday.
Biggest Overreactions From Bears vs. Titans
Was Caleb Williams Worth the No. 1 Pick?
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and with that come high expectations.
Across the league, Williams had one of the lower-impact Week 1 performances among rookie quarterbacks, which begs the question: Was he worth the No. 1 pick in the draft?
The answer to that question won’t become apparent until much later in the season, but one major thing to note is Williams’ lack of turnovers and turnover-worthy plays. Sure, his 19-yard sack wasn’t ideal, but as far as rookie mistakes go, that kind of blunder can be overlooked.
Only two quarterbacks have attempted over 25 passes in their debut and not reach the 100-yard plateau. Unfortunately, Williams now joins Desmond Ridder on that list.
Williams expects to improve this season, and he has the support of his head coach and the team surrounding him. While it might take a bit to acclimate to the NFL, Williams’ rookie season will remain under a microscope each week.
Darrell Taylor Making Case for Best Pass Rusher on Team
On a defensive front headlined by Montez Sweat, newly acquired EDGE Darrell Taylor made his presence felt in Week 1.
Chicago had a lackluster pass rush last season before they traded for Sweat midway through the year. Meanwhile, Taylor is making his case for the team’s best pass rusher through the first week of play.
Against Tennessee, Taylor totaled eight tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Sweat, on the other hand, recorded just two tackles.
It’s only one game, and Sweat was dealing with a toe injury heading into this week, so maybe his timetable to return fully hasn’t been reached.
One thing is for certain, and that’s the fact that Chicago might’ve found a gem in Taylor for the cheap price of a 2025 sixth-round pick. In three seasons with Seattle, Taylor totaled 21.5 sacks, showing he’s capable of consistently getting to the quarterback.
With how lacking Chicago’s pass rush has been the last few years, Taylor’s addition could be what’s needed on its defensive front.
Velus Jones Jr. Has Returned His Last Kickoff in the NFL
When it comes to recognizing flaws in a player’s game, Velus Jones Jr. and his lack of ball security could earn him a spot on the bench moving forward.
In his only kick return this week, Jones muffed the kick, giving possession to Tennessee in scoring range.
As one of Ryan Poles’ first draft picks since becoming the Bears’ general manager, Jones has had a bit of a rocky start to his NFL career. His ability to field punts and kicks has frequently resulted in turnovers. And with Jones losing another kickoff in Week 1, his likelihood of being a returner in the NFL seems as unlikely as it ever has.
Jones ranked fifth in the NFL last season with 435 kick return yards but his breakaway ability may not be worth the potential for turnovers.
Bears Have NFL’s Worst Interior Offensive Line
Coming into the season, the stability of Chicago’s interior offensive line was a major concern.
The Bears have Teven Jenkins (LG), Coleman Shelton (C), and Nate Davis (RG) manning the interior, and against the Titans’ defensive front, it was tough to watch.
Of the three, Shelton’s day was notably the worst of the bunch, as Chicago’s inability to address the center position continues into 2024.
The Chicago offensive line allowed pressure to be applied 27.3% of the time on dropbacks and nearly half the time on first downs, as Williams saw pressure 40 percent of the time when restarting the chains.
The Bears will face better defensive fronts this season, so to get blown up the way they did in Week 1 causes reason for concern moving forward. Not only is this true for Williams’ progression as a rookie QB, but it’s also relevant for the health of Chicago’s offensive skill players.
Between running backs getting blown up in the backfield and Williams running for his life against the pass rush, the interior OL will need to improve moving forward. Otherwise, this could be a very long season for Williams and the Bears’ offense.
Where Was the ‘Best WR Trio in NFL’ This Week?
Following its offseason full of hype and praise, Chicago’s wide receiver trio of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze was seen as possibly one of the best groups in the NFL. However, after Week 1, that theory is being tested.
The three receivers combined for 10 receptions, 76 yards, and no scores between them.
Keenan Allen saw 11 targets but was only able to haul in four. Only one was a drop but that could have resulted in Caleb Williams’ first touchdown pass.
Now, their production relies heavily on the quarterback getting them the ball. But with the hype building around this trio all offseason, the picture painted of this group was that they’re capable of more than 76 combined yards.
To continue being considered one of the best WR groups in the league, production from Moore, Allen, and Odunze must improve across the board. If not, the Bears’ offense could be a major disappointment in 2024.