What went right, what went wrong for the Titans vs. the Bears in Week 1

Both the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears finished in last place in their respective divisions in 2023. However, each franchise made big-time changes this offseason, and there was a lot of hope for both clubs. The Titans were in the Windy City of the first time since 2016.

Titans let one get away from them on Sunday at Chicago

What went right: Impressive offensive start

The Titans’ new head coach is Brian Callahan, who opened some eyes during his days with the Bengals. The team’s new offensive coordinator is Nick Holz, the former passing game coordinator for the Jaguars. The club added offensive weapons such as running back Tony Pollard, and wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. After 30 minutes of play, quarterback Will Levis and company were off to a strong start.

What stood out early on when it came to Tennessee’s offense was balance. Led by Pollard’s 64 yards on the ground, Callahan’s club ran for 115 yards on 16 attempts. Pollard scored the team’s first touchdown of the season on a 26-yard run. Meanwhile, Levis dropped back 16 times and hit on nine of his 15 throws for 67 yards and a touchdown. A total of 32 plays added up to 179 yards, and turnover-free football.

What went wrong: Not so special teams

When it was all said and done, Tennessee’s special teams played a huge role in this opening-week setback. Of course, it certainly didn’t start out that way. In fact, the Titans got a huge break in the first quarter. After taking a 7-0 lead, the Bears muffed the ensuing kickoff, Tennessee recovered and converted that miscue to a 40-yard field goal by veteran Nick Folk. The Titans now owned a 10-0 advantage.

It was all downhill after that. After Brian Callahan’s club opened up a 17-0 second-quarter lead, Chicago’s DeAndre Carter returned the ensuing kickoff for 67 yards. That would set up a Bears field goal in the closing minute of the first half. On Tennessee’s first possession of the second half, a short drive ended in disaster. Ryan Stonehouse’s punt was blocked, and the Bears picked up the ball and returned it for a touchdown.

What went right: Effective third-down defense

Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s unit did a lot of things right on Sunday at Soldier Field. All told, the Titans limited the Bears to a mere 148 yards on 53 offensive plays—a mere 2.8 average per play. Tennessee defenders corralled the host team on the ground to the tune of 84 yards on 22 attempts. Chicago’s only trip to the end zone came via Caleb Williams’ two-point conversion toss to D’Andre Swift.

Perhaps even more impressive was Wilson’s unit when it came to stifling Matt Eberflus’s team on third down. Yes, the Bears were successful on a pair of fourth-down conversions in the first half. However, the Titans really did a number on Chicago’s attack when it really counted. The Bears were just 2-of-15 on third-down conversion attempts, a distressing 15.4 percent. Wilson's defense deserved a better fate.

What went wrong: Forgettable fourth quarter

Brian Callahan’s club entered the final 15 minutes of the with a 17-10 lead entering the fourth quarter. So, what happened? All told, Tennessee was shut out and gained only 45 yards of total offense in those final 15 minutes, running only 17 offensive plays. They totaled three first downs, and wound up with a goose egg in terms of third-down conversion (0-of-4). There were three turnovers, all by quarterback Will Levis.

Just take a look at the Titans’ four possessions in the quarter. The first ended with Levis being sacked and losing a fumble. The next time Callahan’s team got the ball, the second-year pro wound up throwing an inexcusable pick-six on the fourth play of the drive that gave Chicago a 24-17 lead. There was a three-and-out on their next possession. The last time the Titans got the ball, Levis would eventually throw another interception.

What went wrong: Titans couldn’t close the deal

Yes, it was the NFL head-coaching debut for Tennessee’s Brian Callahan. Thanks to general manager Ran Carthon, the former offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals is leading a team that did a lot to improve its talent on both sides of the ball. For what it’s worth, the team finished the preseason with a 3-0 record. After taking a 17-0 halftime lead at Chicago on Sunday, things were looking up.

However, there’s this rule in football that you have to play all four quarters. Simply put, save for a very inspired effort from Tennessee’s defense, Callahan’s club simply didn’t execute after intermission. The Titans gained 179 yards in the first 30 minutes of play, and a combined 65 yards in the final two quarters. The team was just 1-7 on the road in 2023, and were in prime position to equal that win total on Sunday.