The Chicago Bears just wrapped up their preseason with a 24-15 victory over the Tennessee Titans, and if you weren’t watching, you missed some serious flashes of what this team could be. This wasn’t just another exhibition game, folks. It was the final shot for a lot of bubble players to prove they belong on a team that’s eyeing a winning year, especially before the Sept. 13 opener against the Carolina Panthers. Head Coach Ben Johnson and his staff are making some tough calls, and some guys absolutely stepped up.
Bagent and a Rookie WR Steal the Show
Look, the starting quarterback situation and top weapons were set heading into camp, and four-fifths of the offensive line was solid, with left tackle being the main battle. So, this final preseason game was all about evaluating that middle and bottom of the roster. And boy, did some guys shine. Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum were the primary quarterbacks, and they absolutely did their job. Bagent was practically perfect, completing an insane 17-of-18 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a ridiculous 156.9 passer rating. That’s efficiency, baby!
But let’s talk about rookie wide receiver Zavion Thomas for a second. This kid made multiple notable plays, but the one everyone is buzzing about was his 97-yard touchdown reception. Seriously, he made a move that straight up cleared him from a cornerback, then turned on the jets, showing off the kind of speed that left the safety chasing after him in the dust. You love to see that kind of playmaking from a rookie when the stakes are highest for a roster spot.
Defense Tightens Up When It Counts
On the defensive side of the ball, we saw a much better performance than last week against the Cincinnati Bengals. Yeah, it’s preseason, so you always take it with a grain of salt because teams are running different schemes. But it still looked like a good showing. They made plays, got stops, and didn’t let the Titans do whatever they wanted out there. That’s a huge step forward for the unit.
Cornerback Terell Smith was magnificent in this game. After dealing with injury struggles throughout camp and preseason, this was his moment to potentially lock down a spot. With the team needing multiple players to step up, Smith absolutely answered the call. Sure, the Titans didn’t trot out many of their day-one starters, so you gotta put an asterisk on some of that dominance. But Ben Johnson’s successful schemes were still on full display, even in an exhibition.
What’s Next for the Bears?
The preseason is officially in the rearview mirror, and now the real decisions begin with the final cuts looming. For guys like Smith and Thomas, these performances could be the difference-maker. The next time we see the Chicago Bears play, it’s for real in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. From here on out, every game matters as they start their quest to repeat as NFC North champions. It’s go time!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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