Posts in 79th and Halas
Bears Stumble Again in 19-13 Loss to Texans, Offensive Woes Continue

Aw shit, here we go again…again. This feeling of déjà vu for Bears fans is the one consistent facet of their fandom and has been for quite some time. I will set the scene as I did last week: The defense showed signs of brilliance while the offense struggled and the more things change, the more they stay the same. While many members of the media, myself included, predicted the Bears wouldn’t come out on top against the Texans, the manner in which they lost left a bitter taste as questions about the offensive production began to surface. You’ve seen this movie before, so I’ll cut right to the chase: The Bears dropped their Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans 19-13 amidst a backdrop of ugly and stagnant offense

Photo by Scott Lewis for the Barber’s Chair Network

Caleb Williams, the rookie quarterback many hope will be the franchise’s savior, had his moments, but they were overshadowed by inconsistent play and costly turnovers with both of those interceptions coming at time when the Bears were in desperate need of points. Williams would finish the game with 23 completions on 37 attempts for 174 yards. The tweets came in a flurry from Bears fans with some even wondering if anything will change for their beloved franchise.

Rookies are supposed to struggle, yes, but Bears fans aren’t reacting to a singular game—they’re reacting to decades of offensive incompetence. The lack of development on that side of the ball has been a constant theme, and yesterday’s game only added to the growing list of concerns. The offensive line couldn’t hold up against Houston’s blitzes, allowing the Texans to harass Williams for 7 sacks. Pro Football Focus graded Bears center Coleman Shelton and right tackle Darnell Wright among the worst performers, with below average grades of 56.7 and 39.0, respectively. This led to the offense managing a meager 205 total yards and converting just 7 of 17 third downs. The running game was also nonexistent, contributing only 71 yards, with Caleb Williams accounting for 24 of those yards on a single 3rd down scramble. D’Andre Swift, brought in to energize the run game, was held to 18 yards on 14 carries, and Khalil Herbert gave the Bears their only touchdown of the day—a 2-yard score form the goal line. Fans expected explosiveness, but instead, they saw predictability. Horizontal play-calling, a hallmark of previous offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s regime, continues to be a head-scratching occurrence for the tenure of current OC Shane Waldron. It’s particularly puzzling for a team that is in desperate need to push the ball vertically.

Photo by Scott Lewis

To make matters worse, the Bears’ defense, though strong at times, could only do so much to contain the Texans' versatile offense. While they limited Houston to just 75 yards on the ground and 3.5 yards per carry, C.J. Stroud’s frequent connections with Nico Collins in the first half left the Bears on their heels. Chicago's defense managed to tighten up in the second half, holding the Texans to a single field goal, but that effort wasn't enough to overcome the lackluster offense. So, what’s next for the Bears? The team finds itself in a predicament of its own making. General Manager Ryan Poles earned praise for his bold moves in drafting WR Rome Odunze and signing veteran weapons like WR Keenan Allen and RB D’Andre Swift but that came at the expense of bolstering the offensive line, a decision that now has Chicago in a tough spot and finding a veteran to help stabilize the offensive line, is unlikely. The onus will fall on Waldron and his staff to adjust. Simplifying the game plan, speeding up Caleb Williams’ release, and moving away from spamming ineffective horizontal passes like bubble screens are the first steps. They need to be better prepared for the blitzes that are coming and keep extra protection in the backfield to buy Williams more time. If they don’t, fans can expect to feel that déjà vu all season long.

79th and Halas, Articles, Football, NFLJoseph LewisComment
DeJa Vu?

Photo by Nikhil Behal for the Barber’s Chair Network

Imagine this: you're on the couch, decked out in your favorite Bears jersey, drink in hand, food spread out in front of you. The TV is tuned to Fox 32 Chicago, and you're watching the Bears struggle offensively. Yet, the defense has staged an impressive comeback from three scores down, and victory is within reach. But, to your surprise, it’s not 2006—it’s 2024, and some things never change. The Bears' defense mirrored teams of old and  clamped down on the Tennessee Titans, holding them scoreless in the second half after being gashed by their run game early on. For the Titans, all gears were clicking in the first half: Will Levis showed flashes of brilliance and the run game gashed last year’s top ranked rush defense for over 100 yards.


The second half marked a turning point for the Bears as Levis, now in his second year, fell back into familiar mistakes, throwing two critical interceptions, including a game-sealing pick-six. While the defense “dusted off” the cobwebs and returned to its late 2024 form, on offense, Caleb Williams was far from electric, looking every bit the rookie adjusting to the professional level. His inexperience showed through out-of-sync throws, batted balls, and predictable reads. Still, there’s something this offense has that previous Bears teams lacked—real potential for growth.

Screenshot by Fox 32 Chicago

 

Consider Williams' stat line: 14-of-29 for 93 yards. One can imagine how different it could’ve looked had Williams connected on two open deep throws to Keenan Allen and DeAndre Carter, both with touchdown potential. Suddenly, you’re looking at 16-for-29, two touchdowns, and over 150 yards—a performance most would consider strong for any quarterback, let alone a rookie. Bears fans can recall past teams struggling to build offensive cohesion with lackluster talent across the line of scrimmage. This team, however, shows far more promise, and Williams' comments reflect that. After the game, I got a chance to ask how he would assess the offense’s performance today and he noted that “little things” disrupted the offense’s flow, and given the missed opportunities, it’s hard to argue otherwise. Less batted balls and throwing more with rhythm and timing and this becomes a two or three score win. This should be a sign of encouragement for Bears fans as some audibly groaned during the stagnant offensive performance.

Rookie QB Caleb Williams spoke about how the “little things will turn this offense around

 Special teams played a crucial role in boosting the Bears today. Cairo Santos was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals, and punter Tory Taylor unleashed booming kicks that flipped the field in favor of the offense. But the true standout was returner DeAndre Carter, whose field-flipping returns set the stage for multiple scoring opportunities. However, questions remain about third-year player Velus Jones Jr., who continued to struggle in the return game, muffing a punt that gave the Titans prime field position for an early score. Despite some offensive growing pains and lingering questions, the Bears' 24-17 victory was powered by a relentless defensive effort. Defensive lineman Darrell Taylor, who was signed on August 23rd, made an immediate impact with two sacks and constant pressure on Will Levis. Head coach Matt Eberflus described Taylor in one word: “energy.” The stat sheet doesn’t fully capture his effect, as his constant disruption forced Levis into key mistakes.

 

This Bears defense has room to grow, but credit goes to GM Ryan Poles for assembling a unit that bends but doesn’t break. Which brings us back to the elephant in the room: the offense. This game made one thing clear—the defense will carry the team early in the season. While the mistakes on offense were fixable, expecting a swift turnaround in the next week or two is unrealistic. Caleb Williams is a rookie, and finding rhythm and consistency takes time. But there’s genuine hope for the offense, grounded in the talent surrounding him. With veterans at every skill position and play-caller Shane Waldron, who delivered a solid game plan despite some crowd frustrations, the potential is there for growth.

 

So, while this article may have initially drawn parallels to past years, this Bears team has the chance to break the mold. Bears fans might finally see a team that doesn’t just rely on a stout defense—but can win in all phases of the game. They’ll just have to be patient.

Articles, Football, 79th and Halas, NFLJoseph Lewisfootball, Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears, ChicagoComment