As the Chicago Bears took on the Texans in Sunday Night Football in Week 2, it appears they still have quite a bit to clean up on the offensive side of the ball.
However, defensively, Chicago might have a group that ends this season as one of the top defenses in the league.
But, as another lackluster offensive performance showed, strong defensive play is only getting this team so far.
Bears’ Offensive Line Struggled All Game
To begin this matchup, the most obvious problem was the Bears’ offensive line, which remained a constant throughout the entire game.
Heading into the week, Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones were seemingly up for the challenge of protecting Caleb Williams from Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter after their Week 1 performance.
Coleman Shelton and Nate Davis stand out as the main problems with this offensive line. Wright also didn’t play well, as both Anderson and Hunter switched off taking shots at the Bears’ rookie quarterback.
Coleman Shelton giving up QUICK penetration in the run game.
Looks like he was blocking outside zone and Braxton Jones was blocking inside zone. #DaBears #Bears pic.twitter.com/KvCbF5wMfV
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) September 16, 2024
In Week 1, the Bears allowed just two sacks. They allowed seven sacks this week, showing the offensive line took a major step back in Week 2.
With the Bears’ schedule getting tougher down the road, they must address the offensive line.
Not only was the offensive line problematic in the passing game, but the rushing attack was essentially non-existent for most of this game.
With 10 minutes left in the first half, the Bears totaled -3 rushing yards, showing they’re an offense that still seems to have training wheels on under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
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Chicago ended the night with 71 rushing yards, but 44 yards came from its rookie quarterback.
This offensive line showed its most emotion in a post-play scrum after Williams was hit near the sideline in the third quarter, but aside from that, it was a really tough game for that unit.
Until they clean up the interior, Williams and the Bears’ offense will continue to come up short.
Caleb Williams, Bears Offensive Struggles Continue
Following his NFL debut last week, Williams’ performance left more to be desired as the No. 1 pick in the draft this offseason.
However, Williams bounced back in Week 2, even if minimally. While the first offensive drive resulted in just three points, Williams completed his first five passes for 55 yards to open the game offensively.
While he showed improvement in the first half, Williams’ second half was disappointing.
After starting the game 5-of-5 for 55 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, Williams finished 23-for-37 for 174 yards and two interceptions. Even though it was a promising start, his rookie blunders continued in Week 2, which showed up in more detrimental ways.
One of the strengths of Williams’ performance in Week 1 was that he didn’t turn the ball over or make many turnover-worthy plays.
That was not the case this week, as Williams was intercepted twice.
LOCKSMITH ON LOCK 🔐
📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/ac2b2Vprzu
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 16, 2024
As the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams has left more to be desired, with rookie mistakes remaining consistent throughout his game.
Along with Williams’ Week 2 performance, the Bears’ offense did something this week they didn’t do through all four quarters last Sunday: Score an offensive touchdown.
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With approximately 30 seconds remaining in the first half, running back Khalil Herbert scored Chicago’s first offensive touchdown through almost six quarters of play.
In the second half, Williams was a bit careless with the ball, but overall, the offensive line play was crucial. Williams was being mauled on every play, and that’s just not an environment any quarterback can thrive in.
While Williams deserves to wear some of the blame for this loss, there were other factors aside from him.
Tyrique Stevenson Humbled Against Stroud, Texans
Coming into this game, it was no surprise that Tyrique Stevenson would be the Bears’ most targeted corner.
Jaylon Johnson has shown he’s one of the top defensive backs in the NFL, and with that, opposing quarterbacks are simply not going to target him often.
Stevenson earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week against the Titans last Sunday, but his performance wasn’t as noteworthy this week.
By avoiding Johnson for most of this game, Stevenson was tested frequently, and unfortunately for the Week 1 NFC DPOW, he likely won’t be winning the award for a second straight week.
The Texans are clearly testing Tyrique Stevenson, and Houston is winning with that matchup.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) September 16, 2024
The Texans have three receivers who could theoretically eclipse 1,000 yards this season. Sadly for the Bears, Johnson can’t cover all three at once.
Through the first half, Nico Collins caught five passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, most of which was under Stevenson’s watch.
In the second half, Stevenson didn’t get targeted as much, though Collins still ended the game with a team-high eight receptions, 135 yards, and one touchdown.
After allowing 86 yards and a touchdown through the first half, Stevenson’s second-half line of three catches for 49 yards doesn’t look too bad.
Sunday Night Football and All-Orange Uniforms Chicago’s Kryptonite
When it comes to performing well in prime-time games, that hasn’t been the case for one of the most storied franchises in the NFL.
After Sunday, Chicago holds a 13-25 record on Sunday Night Football since 2000. The Texans are now 2-0 against Chicago on Sunday night, with the first win coming back in 2012.
To “sweeten” the week for Chicago, the Bears have played five games in their all-orange uniforms, losing four of those matchups. Their only win in these alternate uniforms was back in 2023, a 16-13 victory in Week 10.
If Chicago wants to win more games, statistically speaking, wearing the all-orange uniforms hasn’t shown to be the winning strategy.
Now, do these uniforms actually make the Bears play worse? Probably not, but the stats don’t lie.
Matt Eberflus’ Ability To Challenge Calls Is Worrisome
In this Week 2 matchup on national television, Matt Eberflus made two challenge calls that had Bears fans shaking their head vigorously both times.
THIS TOE DRAG THO 😮💨
📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/MckS9WnS0T
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 16, 2024
The first challenge was on a Stefon Diggs reception made directly in front of him. Eberflus threw the challenge flag, and the review showed the crystal-clear definition of a catch made in bounds.
Eberflus’ next challenge came on what looked like a potential Kyler Gordon interception. One look from the coordinators above could’ve dissuaded Eberflus from throwing the flag, but Gordon pleaded that he intercepted the pass.
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Eberflus listened to his player and, because of that, wasted his second challenge of the night.
Throughout his time as the Bears’ head coach, Eberflus has shown questionable in-game decision-making.
In Week 2 against the Texans, this sentiment remained true.
