Three Takeaways from Bears' 38-0 rout of Bills |
Dustin Riese
· · 13 hours ago
Preseason may be a meaningless time of the year for most fans, but when it comes to organizations, the preseason is crucial for what lies ahead. Sure, none of these games count for anything, but these are the first opportunities players have to hit someone other than their teammates, while also going about their everyday routine to try and get as much work in as possible.
When it comes to the Bears and their preseason, you have seen a different mindset this year as they are not only taking things far more seriously than in seasons past, but they are starting to preach what they are practicing. A lot of that has to do with the no-nonsense approach Ben Johnson has put into play as he is a detail-oriented Head Coach that isn't going to settle for anything less than the highest level of play for his players. Take Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills, for example, as the Bears made a lasting statement by disposing of them 38-0. Sure, most of the Bills' starters, especially on the offensive end, didn't play, but this was a Bears squad that only used their starters in the first quarter in what was otherwise a game dominated by the reserves. It's that type of energy and level of play that has been lacking for the Bears for the better part of five seasons, so to see that this early in Ben Johnson's tenure has to be a breath of fresh air. Here are some things that stood out in the blowout win:
After sitting out the first week of the preseason, Caleb Williams made his unofficial 2025 debut on Sunday as the Bears' first team offense took the field to open the game. Although it may have been short-lived when it comes to how long they were on the field, you couldn't have asked for a better start, as Williams showed just how dangerous this offense could be this season. From a stat line, Williams wasn't perfect, going 6-10 for 107 yards and a touchdown, but it's the way he went about a lot of those yards that had teams noticing. Williams showed off every bit of his arsenal, completing several short-yardage completions while also going up top for the deep ball. He even orchestrated a 93-yard touchdown drive on the opening possession, which had to feel good. For all the pundits out there who have been saying how much Williams has been struggling in camp, that is to be expected with a new system, as there is always a learning curve when a new head coach comes in. Struggles or not, there weren't many struggles from the first team offense last night, and if that continues, this unit has the potential to be one of the best units in the NFL.What a way to start
Tyson Bagent is QB No. 2
While there was a battle for the No. 2 QB position earlier in camp between Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum, that argument has been put to rest as Bagent will indeed be Quarterback No.2 this season. That shouldn't come as a surprise when you hear Johnson talk about Bagent, but watching him on Sunday is all the proof you need as to why the Bears love his body of work.
On the passing side of things, Bagent completed 13 of his 22 passes for nearly 200 yards and added a touchdown pass to go with it. He also used his legs on several occasions as that has always been a part of his game. Nowhere near the best backup quarterback, Bagent is one of those players who knows his strengths and Johnson has done a great job of using his strengths to his advantage.
Even if Bagent has outplayed Austin Reed and Keenum throughout camp, Johnson will likely wait until the final preseason game to announce the backup as Keenum should get more run in that game. That could mean that Williams and Reed don't play in the preseason finale, as the Bears have seen enough from their top dog.
Defense, defense, defense
For all the talk about the offense and just how much improved it looks this season, the ultimate success or failures of this team is going to hinge on the defense. That has been the case since Matt Nagy was in Chicago, and it continued to be the case last season, even if they did take a step back.
This season should be no exception, as the Bears added arguably a top-three defensive coordinator in Dennis Allen to call the plays, and you can see the impact he is already making this summer. Known for his aggressive style and getting the most out of his defense, Allen is already putting his stamp on the Bears' defense as they have been flying around all preseason.
You continued to see that yesterday during their shutout as the Bears forced a fumble and several turnovers on downs while also getting after Mitch Trubisky and company several times. Austin Booker was a standout performer for the second straight game, adding his third sack of the preseason as he looks to continue that into the regular season.
Rookie linebacker Ruben Hyppolite showed what he can do on the field in a sideline-to-sideline role, while the Bears' entire defensive unit is poised for big things this season. While most of the success this season will be credited to Johnson, Allen is going to deserve as much credit as anyone, as he may have been the single biggest assistant coach hiring of the offseason.
