Bears Shine in Preseason Showdown With Buffalo, Earn High Marks Across the Board

In their second preseason matchup, th

e Bears performed so well that even a fumbled return by Velus Jones Jr. was a minor detail. Jones proved his worth, particularly impressing in his first outing as a running back, during the Bears’ decisive 33-6 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Caleb Williams, making his Bears debut, significantly boosted the passing game, leading to high praise from wide receiver DJ Moore.

 

Head Coach Matt Eberflus acknowledged the positive developments and mentioned upcoming practices and a game against Cincinnati, recognizing the team’s strong performance in the preseason so far.

Here’s a breakdown of the Bears’ performance in that game:

Running Game: A
The Bears displayed a solid running game with five players achieving runs of 11 yards or more. Despite a few stopped plays, Khalil Herbert and Ian Wheeler made noteworthy contributions, with Wheeler scoring touchdowns. Jones also excelled, averaging 5.7 yards per carry, showing notable determination and skill.

Passing Game: B
Caleb Williams shone with big plays, including a 42-yard screen and a 26-yard throw to Cole Kmet, and managed significant third-down conversions. The offensive line held up well, protecting Williams effectively.

Run Defense: A-
The Bears limited the Bills to 3.0 yards per carry, with effective performances from Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings among others. They also handled different types of runs well, maintaining solid tackling throughout the game.

Pass Defense: A
An exceptional showing saw the Bears achieve eight sacks, with notable efforts from Austin Booker and Daniel Hardy, despite not having Montez Sweat. A pick-6 by linebacker Micah Baskerville highlighted their defensive prowess, keeping the Bills to just 3.2 yards per pass attempt.

Special Teams: C+
Despite a mishandled kickoff by Jones and a missed field goal by Cairo Santos, the special teams managed decent field positions and adapted well to new kicking rules. Punter Tory Taylor made a promising debut similar to Williams’.

Coaching: A
Shane Waldron’s strategy of utilizing Jones in the backfield paid off, presenting a balanced offensive threat. Defensive line coach Travis Smith received special praise, especially since the defensive line excelled in generating pressures and sacks.

Overall: B+
This game would have been seen as a success even without Williams’ participation; however, his standout debut added significant optimism. The team looks promising, especially with the strong defensive showing, which could lead to more turnovers in future matches.

As the preseason progresses, the Bears are showing a mix of veteran skill and promising new talent, setting a hopeful tone for the upcoming season.