It's been eight years since the Texans started the season with two consecutive victories.
To get that second straight victory, just like in 2016, the Texans are going to need to beat a feisty and athletically gifted Chicago Bears squad. The Bears are coming off of a gutsy come from behind victory over the Tennessee Titans 24-17. Now, it was a win, no doubt, but one that they had to grind out for a full 60 minutes. Pretty was absolutely not the word to use for that 7-point win over Tennessee.
Unlike 2016, these Bears will be led by "The Future" at the QB position and the one man who gives Bears fans hope that Chicago can once again have glory days. His name is Caleb Williams and he's the absolute truth. But, BUT he's a rookie and like most rookies, he struggled in the win over the Titans. When he had guys open, he overshot them. When he dotted his receivers, they dropped key passes. It was a disjointed offensive performance for a group that has more offensive talent than Chicago fans have seen in quite some time. But, that defense? Woof. Really, REALLY outstanding. Special teams? Saved the game.
This matchup will be the first Sunday Night Football game at NRG Stadium in five years. That, more than anything, is just glorious. As such, let's get to know our Week 2 foe - the 2024 Chicago Bears.
Chicago 2024 Schedule (1-0)
Week 1 - W Tennessee Titans 24-17
Week 2 - @ Houston Texans
Week 3 - @ Indianapolis Colts
Week 4 - Los Angeles Rams
Week 5 - Carolina Panthers
Week 6 - Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 7 - BYE WEEK
Week 8 - @ Washington Commanders
Week 9 - @ Arizona Cardinals
Week 10 - New England Patriots
Week 11 - Green Bay Packers
Week 12 - Minnesota Vikings
Week 13 - @ Detroit Lions
Week 14 - @ San Francisco 49ers
Week 15 - @ Minnesota Vikings
Week 16 - Detroit Lions
Week 17 - Seattle Seahawks
Week 18 - @ Green Bay Packers
Bears OFFENSE (in 2024 regular season)
Rushing Yards Per game - 84.0 ypg (24th in the NFL)
Passing Yards Per game - 64.0 ypg (32nd)
Total offense per game - 148.0 ypg (32nd)
Turnovers lost - 1 (1 Fumble lost)
Expected Bears starting offense for Week 2
QB - CALEB WILLIAMS
RB - D'ANDRE SWIFT
WR - D.J. Moore
WR - ROME ODUNZE (maybe)
WR - Keenan Allen (maybe)
TE - Cole Kmet
LT - Braxton Jones
LG - Teven Jenkins
C - COLEMAN SHELTON
RG - Nate Davis
RT - Darnell Wright
Key Offensive Non-Starters
WR - Tyler Scott
WR/RB - Velus Jones Jr.
RB - Roschon Johnson
RB - TRAVIS HOMER
RB - Khalil Herbert
WR - DeANDRE CARTER
OL - RYAN BATES
TE - GERALD EVERETT
TE - Marcedes Lewis
Italics - Rookie
ALL CAPS - New to team in 2024
Keys to winning v. the Bears Offense
- The NEW Magic Man- The Bears have been looking for the next Sid Luckman for over seventy years. Since 1950, Luckman's final year in Chicago, the Bears have had only TWO Pro Bowl QBs that were voted/selected for the game. To put that in context, the Texans have had three Pro Bowl QBs and became a franchise in 2002. So, Bears fans thought they had the third future Pro Bowl QB with Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft, but his time in Chicago fizzled out and it was back to the drawing board. As such, the Bears made former USC star QB Caleb Williams the number one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He's magical. He's intelligent. He's athletic. He's also a rookie. All of those adjectives showed up in week one against the Titans - some brilliance combined with moments of hesitation and confusion. He can escape the pocket like David Blaine or Houdini. He makes plays that defy description, but he also is playing his first NFL regular season game…on the road…on a Sunday night…in front of a raucous Houston crowd. He will create magic, but the Texans have to make sure that his magician's act takes place next week against Indianapolis and not in front of a national TV audience.
- The Underrated Man - Quick, how many Pro Bowls has Bears WR D.J. Moore attended? At first glance, immediate thought would be at least two, however, he's not been voted to one. How is that so? He's had three seasons with 87 or more receptions and every single year in his career, he's had 55 catches or more. He has four 1100+ yard seasons and he's reached 785+ yards in every season of his career. He's WILDLY underrated and he's the straw that stirs the drink in Chicago, regardless of the presence of rookie first rounder Rome Odunze and recently acquired veteran Keenan Allen. Moore has the full package - speed, run-after-the-catch ability, glue sticks for hands and route running pacing/timing/ability. He'll have to work through the ups and downs of rookie QB Caleb Williams, but if there's anyone that Williams will eye on third down or in a big, clutch situation, it's Moore.
- The Spotlight Man- In week one, free agent signee RB D'Andre Swift was unable to get the engine cranked up. He had ten carries and finished with just 30 yards. The Bears have a solid stable of backs, with varied skills, but it's Swift that the Bears need to get on track. He's averaged over 4.5 yards per carry in his career, but this is an OL that struggled to get Titans moved off line of scrimmage, which kept Swift at an unusually low 3.0 yards per attempt. The Texans run defense did a great job on Colts star Jonathan Taylor, similarly holding him to 3.0 yards per attempt. The Texans defensive front limited Taylor's space, so he couldn't exploit the defense; against the dynamic Swift, it'll need to do much of the same to have similar success.
Bears DEFENSE (in 2024 regular season)
Rushing Yards Allowed Per game - 140.0 ypg (22nd in the NFL)
Passing Yards Allowed Per game - 104.0 ypg (2nd)
Total offense Allowed per game - 244.0 ypg (8th)
Turnovers generated - 3 (2 INT, 1 Fumble recoveries - Bears are +2 in TO margin in 2024)
Expected Bears starting defense for Week 2
DE - Montez Sweat
DT - Gervon Dexter Sr.
DT - Andrew Billings
DE - DARRELL TAYLOR or DeMarcus Walker
LB - TJ Edwards
LB - Tremaine Edmunds
5c - Kyler Gordon
CB - Jaylon Johnson
S - Jaquan Brisker
S - KEVIN BYARD
CB - Tyrique Stevenson
Key Defensive Non-Starters
DE - AUSTIN BOOKER
DT - Zacch Pickens (Maybe)
LB - Jack Sanborn
S - Jonathan Owens
DT - Chris Williams
Italics - Rookie
ALL CAPS - New to team in 2024
Keys to winning v. the Bears Defense
- Time to Sweat- The Bears traded for former Washington DE Montez Sweat after eight games of the 2023 season. In those eight games in Washington, Sweat had a team high 6.5 sacks for the Commanders. In the final nine games for the Bears, Sweat had a team high 6.0 sacks, giving him 12.5 for the season. It also marked the first time in history that a player led two teams in sacks in the same season. The Bears felt Sweat's impact even more so as the Bears defense improved from 23rd best in yards allowed to 12th in yards allowed. The Bears had 20 sacks in the last nine games. That statistical dominance continued against the Titans as the Bears held them to just 244 total yards on offense and created three turnovers. Sweat is a major part of that, so the Texans have their work cut out slowing down one of the league's most dynamic edge players against the run and pass.
- JJ is dynamite- On Monday morning, a little over 24 hours after beating the Indianapolis Colts, I got an email from Texans business operations that we had a new hire in our midst. Yes, Jaylon Johnson was hired by the Texans. I did a double take, wondering whether…nah, not the same Jaylon Johnson. As much as I'm excited for OUR Jaylon Johnson, I was secretly hoping that we wouldn't have to face the Bears' Jaylon Johnson. All kidding aside, yes, the Texans wide receivers will indeed face one of the best cornerbacks in the league on Sunday night. Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson form one of the best cornerback duos in the league. Each one had an interception against the Titans, but Stevenson's was more of a gift than anything else. Either way, Johnson was given a new contract this offseason to remain a Bear and a leader in an extremely talented secondary. I'll be curious whether Johnson will travel with any of the Texans top three receivers or not, but no matter where he lines up, the Texans must be aware of his presence. He's a tough, physical and smart cover corner who has ball skills on par with the best in the NFL. He's a difficult test for anyone in Liberty White on Sunday night.
- Underrated, part two- Like his offensive counterpart D.J. Moore, Bears LB T.J. Edwards gets nowhere near the credit that he deserves. He finished the opener against the Titans with 15 tackles and he did so with a mix of tackles on short passes and run plays. He did it with speed. He flashed his ferocity. In the second half against the Titans, they ran duo and as Edwards filled in the B gap, the Titans right guard peeled off and tried to block Edwards. But, the Bears linebacker forearm shivered said guard right into the turf and made the tackle for no gain. He didn't get anywhere near as much money in free agency as linebacker partner Tremaine Edmunds made a couple of years ago, but he should have. Edwards is a complete three down linebacker who does a little bit of everything really well. He didn't come off the field against Tennessee, wreaking havoc all day long. The Texans must treat him like they did the Colts linebackers, physically beating him up in the run game, in particular. If they don't, Edwards will make a name for his underrated self in front of a national television audience.
