3 Keys to a Bears victory over the Titans in Week 1

The Chicago Bears kick off their 2024 season at home against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. While most analysts and fans overlook the Titans, the Bears would do well to respect their opponents. Since ending the 2023 season at 6-11, they’ve added some serious firepower to their roster and hired a decorated offensive coordinator, Brian Callahan, as their head coach.

Chicago won’t be able to cruise to victory on Sunday, especially with question marks of their own. Here are three things they must do to start the 2024 season on the right foot.

Overwhelm Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson

After hiring Callahan as their head coach, the Titans hired Dennard Wilson as their defensive coordinator. This will be Wilson’s first gig as a defensive coordinator and his first time calling plays in a game. Bears’ offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who has been a play caller for three years now, needs to give Wilson a “welcome to the NFL” moment.

Armed with the best trio of receivers in the NFL, plus reliable pass catchers in tight ends Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett and running back D’Andre Swift, Waldron must overwhelm the inexperienced Wilson. With as much talent as the Bears have assembled on offense and playing at home, there’s no excuse not to.

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Chicago Bears defense must force at least three turnovers

As great of a job as GM Ryan Poles has done in turning this roster around, the defensive line is still a question mark, even with the addition of Pro Bowl defensive end Montez Sweat. Don’t expect the Bears to get much pressure on second-year quarterback Will Levis, especially with the improvements Tennessee has made on their offensive line.

That means the linebackers and the secondary must bring their A-game in coverage. They must smother Tennessee’s receivers to buy Sweat and the others time to get to the quarterback and intercept passes when they can’t. If they let Levis and his receivers march up and down the field, it could be a long day at the office for the Bears.

Caleb Williams needs to be Caleb Williams

Everything hinges on the first overall pick of the 2024 draft. The Bears have surrounded him with elite pass catchers, a strong run game, and an above-average offensive line. While better defensively on paper, the Titans will likely need time to hit their ceiling, given all the new faces and schemes they’ll be running.

Williams has to prove that he’s a generational quarterback on Sunday. I’m not saying he needs to have Cam Newton’s debut (a 422-yard and two-touchdown dazzler), but it should not be a “typical rookie” debut. If Williams can throw for over 250 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions, not only would the odds of a Bears victory on Sunday go through the roof, but also Chicago’s spot in the weekly power rankings.

Final Prediction: Bears win 27-17

As high as I am on the Titans this season, it will take them some time to gel and play to their ceiling as a unit. For Week 1, on the road against a ball-hawking defense that should be familiar with its scheme and against one of the best collections of talent on the offensive side of the ball, it should be a harrowing learning experience for them.

I have the Bears scoring two passing touchdowns and one on the ground on Sunday, plus a pair of Cairo Santos field goals, while keeping the Titans mostly in check until they score some points in garbage time. Caleb Williams will throw a couple of bad balls but will otherwise finish with a strong performance. The Bears won’t come out of Week 1 with a blowout win, but anyone watching should sense that they spent all afternoon in the driver’s seat.

Buckle up, Bears fans. A new era is here.