The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for Sunday’s Bears season opener at Soldier Field:
Rick Morrissey
Bears, 24-17: Everything seems to point toward a good debut for Caleb Williams at Soldier Field — Southern California-like weather, a roster full of talented skill-position players and an opponent coming off a 6-11 season. Last season: 11-6.
Rick Telander
Bears, 24-21: We don’t seem to think much of the Titans, maybe because they used to be the Houston Oilers. But unknowns such as 6-4, 367-pound rookie nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat worry me. Don’t fall on Caleb! Last season: 11-6.
Scoop Jackson
Bears, 31-16: After they were the best team in the NFL in the preseason (4-0 record, plus-68 point differential, 28.8 points per game, the only team with more than 100 total points), the Bears will continue their reintroduction to the world.. Last season: 12-5.
Patrick Finley
Bears, 20-9: This is the perfect spot to start the season: at home against the Titans, who are predicted to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. Only the Giants, Panthers and Patriots have longer odds to win the Super Bowl.Last season: 13-4.
Jason Lieser
Bears, 23-17: Plan on some good and some bad from Williams in his debut, but the Bears have enough talent around him to get by with that type of performance.Last season: 10-7.
Mark Potash
Bears, 23-17: The Bears’ offense figures to be clunky in Williams’ first NFL game, but that’s less likely to be costly at home against the rebuilding Titans under first-year coach Brian Callahan. Last season: 11-6.
The Sun-Times’ experts predict the Bears’ 2024 record.
Since the rookie was born on Nov. 18, 2001, the Bears have gone 23 games under .500 in the regular season. At his position, they’ve been even worse.