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Chicago Bears vs Tennessee Titans
Sunday, September 8th @ Noon (CST)
Solider Field
FOX 32
WBBM 780
Tennessee Titans lead series 7-6-0
DEMARCUS WALKER & MONTEZ SWEAT vs NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE & JC LATHAM
There is no real question that Montez Sweat may have single handedly saved Matt Eberflus' job. His midseason addition invigorated a painfully stale Chicago pass rush and will serve as the Bears premiere pass rusher for years to come. So the real question at defensive end is last season's FA signing DeMarcus Walker. Walker's sack numbers tumbled, but like the rest of the pass rush, finished strong and was strong in the run game all season. Coming into his second year in this defense, he draws his former team in what the coaches are hoping is the beginning of a bounce back season for the veteran. One that has a fifth round rookie hungry to take his place. It's a good set up for both ends as the Titans will be starting a rookie on the left and a third year player on the right that "won" the starting gig when the vet in front of him suddenly retired from the NFL. Add in the second year QB on the road and this looks like an easy path for the Bear pass rush to start strong in 2024.
BEARS REVAMPED RECEIVERS vs TITANS REVAMPED SECONDARY
The only team that might have worked harder to revamp it's receiving corps than the Bears are how hard the Titans worked to revamp their secondary. Trading standout defensive back, L'Jarius Sneed, fresh off back to back Super Bowl wins, while also adding Chidobe Awuzie and Quandre Diggs in an agressive new look Tennessee secondary. Chicago just recently locked down their number one receiver from last season. DJ Moore had a career season in 2023, hauling in 96 catches for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns. The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the most consistent receivers in the league, posting four 1,000-yard campaigns in the last five years.. Along with Moore, the Bears acquired Keenan Allen via trade and Rome Odunze in April's draft. Allen has shown no signs of slowing, totaling 108 catches and 1,243 yards last season. Odunze was one of the best players in this draft class and should also have a sizeable impact on the Bears' offense this season despite his standing on the TE depth chart. Should be a fantastic week one match up for both sides of this battle as both teams look to take back their respective divisions in 2024.
SHANE WALDRON vs DENNARD WILSON
The Bears hired Waldron in January after firing offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and several members of the offensive staff members following a disappointing 2023 season. Planning to draft a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick, head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles assembled an offensive staff led by Waldron with an emphasis on their teaching abilities. While the offense in Seattle reached anywhere near the top of the league, the career season out of journeyman QB Geno Smith can't be ignored. Now Waldron is being entrusted with the most highly touted quarterback of the past decade in a quarterback starved city. On the other side is first year defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. A former NFL player he has been around highly successful defenses during his twelve year coaching career, particularly in the last two seasons. Wilson was the defensive backs coach in Baltimore last year and held the same title on an Eagles team that dominated its way toward an appearance in Super Bowl LVII. Each of those defenses respectively led the league in sacks with Wilson's unit dutifully covering the back end. He seems to command a lot of respect from his players already and with an offense still finding it's way, it's going to be up to the first year playcaller to make sure the Titans aren't playing from behind if the new look Chicago offense finds it's way even faster.
Stats for the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans as they finished the 2023 season
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Bears | Titans |
Total First Downs | 322 | 298 |
1st Downs (Rush-Pass-By Penalty) | 137 - 169 - 16 | 103 - 158 - 37 |
3rd Down Conversions | 98/237 | 71/212 |
4th Down Conversions | 13/26 | 11/20 |
Total Offensive Yds | 5820 | 5358 |
Offense (Plays-Avg Yds) | 1097 - 5.7 | 1002 - 5.3 |
Total Rushing Yds | 2399 | 1846 |
Rushing (Plays-Avg Yards) | 534 - 4.5 | 444- 4.2 |
Total Passing Yds | 3096 | 3066 |
Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Avg) | 321- 513 - 15 - 6.7 | 304 - 494 - 11 - 7.1 |
Sacks | 50 | 64 |
Field Goals | 35/38 | 29/30 |
Touchdowns | 40 | 31 |
(Rush-Pass-Ret-Def) | 16 - 19 - 1- 4 | 14 - 16 - 0 - 1 |
Turnover Ratio | +3 | -4 |
PASSING
Justin Fields
ATT | COMP | YDS | CP% | YPA | TD | INT | LONG | SACK | RATE |
370 | 227 | 2562 | 61.4 | 6.9 | 16 | 9 | 58 | 44 | 86.3 |
RECEIVING
DJ Moore
RECEPTIONS | YARDS | YDS PER REC | LONG | TD |
96 | 1394 | 14.2 | 58 | 8 |
RUSHING
Khalil Herbert
ATTEMPTS | YARDS | YDS PER ATT | LONG | TD |
132 | 611 | 4.6 | 38 | 2 |
TACKLES
TJ Edwards
COMBINED | SOLO | ASST | TFL | QB HITS |
155 | 91 | 64 | 8 | 8 |
INTERCEPTIONS
Jaylon Johnson
INTS | YARDS | TDS | LONG | PASS DEFLECT |
4 | 65 | 1 | 39 | 10 |
SACKS
Montez Sweat
PLAYER | SACKS |
Montez Sweat | 6.0 |
Justin Jones | 4.5 |
Yannick Ngakoue | 4.0 |
DeMarcus Walker | 3.5 |
Gervon Dexter | 2.5 |
T.J. Edwards | 2.5 |
Rasheem Green | 2.0 |
Jack Sanborn | 1.0 |
Jaquan Brisker | 1.0 |
Kyler Gordon | 1.0 |
Greg Stroman | 1.0 |
Zacch Pickens | 0.5 |
Dominique Robinson | 0.5 |
TOTAL TEAM SACKS | 30 |
| | |
|---|---|---|
PFT | 13 | 
PFT's Week 1 2024 NFL power rankingsThe two-time defending champs still rule the roost.
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NFL | 16 | |
USA Today | 17 | 
NFL power rankings Week 1: Champion Chiefs in top spot but shuffle occurs behind themTraining camp and the preseason reshaped the top of the NFL power rankings heading into Week 1, with some contenders shifting around.
www.usatoday.com
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ESPN | 17 |
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www.usatoday.com
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CBS | 17 | 
NFL Week 16 Power Rankings: Buccaneers getting hot at right time; Lions fall to fourth after loss to BillsPete Prisco shares his Power Rankings heading into Week 16 of the 2024 season
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