WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL
Rookie Caleb Williams should be better in Week 2 after passing for only 93 yards with a 55.7 passer rating in his NFL debut. But he faces a difficult challenge — on the road, in prime time, against what is expected to be a better defense and possibly without two key weapons in wide receivers Keenan Allen (heel) and Rome Odunze (knee).
Protection will be a key as always, and Bears offensive tackles Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright will be on the spot Sunday night against Texans defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Anderson was the defensive rookie of the year last season with seven sacks and 22 quarterback hits. Hunter is coming off a career-best 16½ sacks with the Vikings last year, including 3½ in two games against the Bears.
That might actually be a better matchup than last week, when the Titans’ Jeffery Simmons, T’Vondre Sweat and Sebastian Joseph-Day attacked the weaker interior of the Bears’ line. Then again, defensive tackles Mario Edwards (the former Bears end) and Foley Fatukasi had the Texans’ only sacks against the Colts’ Anthony Richardson last week. So it’ll be a big week for center Coleman Shelton and guards Teven Jenkins and Nate Davis/Ryan Bates after a tough opener last week.
While all eyes will be on Williams, the Bears will be trying to establish a better running game against the Texans to put Williams in more advantageous situations. So it might be a bigger game for the offensive line than the heralded quarterback this week.
WHEN THE TEXANS HAVE THE BALL
Quarterback C.J. Stroud, who made the Pro Bowl and was the offensive rookie of the year in 2023, was in prime form against the Colts last week, completing 24 of 32 passes (75%) for 234 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 115.9 rating. But it was a new wrinkle that caught the Bears’ attention — Joe Mixon’s 30 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown.
“Not only Joe Mixon, they’ve got [left tackle] Laremy Tunsil, who, I believe, is if not the best tackle in the league, definitely top two or top three,” Bears defensive end Montez Sweat said. ‘‘And on the other side, Tytus Howard, who’s also a respected tackle in the league. They have a good line and a very talented back. So we gotta bring our [stuff].”
The Bears’ defensive line was dominant against the Titans with three sacks (two by newcomer Darrell Taylor) and 10 quarterback hits (four by end DeMarcus Walker).
Both of Taylor’s sacks came from the right side against rookie JC Latham, the No. 7 overall pick in his first NFL game. Tunsil figures to be a much more difficult matchup. But that also could provide opportunities for Sweat, who was effective but had no impact plays on the stat sheet last week, against Howard and the left side.
The Bears’ run defense, which was shaky in the first half against the Titans (16 carries, 115 yards, including Tony Pollard’s 26-yard touchdown), knows it needs a faster start against Mixon.