Bears’ Offense Falters in Preseason Finale Against Chiefs

The Chicago Bears struggled offensively during their final preseason game, suffering a slow start before securing a comeback victory against the Kansas City Chiefs. The game, held on August 25, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, showcased a dramatic turnaround with the Bears overcoming a 17-point deficit to win 29-27. Despite the thrilling finish, Head Coach Ben Johnson expressed disappointment in the team’s initial performance.

Johnson highlighted that the first two offensive drives were marred by mistakes, which have plagued the Bears throughout training camp. “Offensively, the first two possessions were really sloppy football that has plugged us in and out of camp so far, and unfortunately that’s what we got here tonight,” Johnson stated.

The Bears’ starting quarterback, Caleb Williams, struggled during his time on the field. He completed 11 of 15 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown, but the offense’s opening drives were ineffective. On their first possession, Williams fumbled an exchange with wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus on a jet sweep, followed by a false start penalty against tight end Colston Loveland. This series ended with the team punting after gaining only 22 yards.

Johnson noted that these early issues were particularly disappointing, as he believed the team had made progress in overcoming similar challenges. “If the first quarter was really any indication, it’s not good enough, so we got to get better in a hurry,” he remarked, emphasizing the need to start games with greater efficiency.

The Bears’ offense finally found its rhythm on their third drive, resulting in a 28-yard field goal by kicker Cairo Santos. As the second quarter progressed, Williams led a 78-yard drive culminating in a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rome Odunze. This effort cut Kansas City’s lead to 20-10 at halftime.

Following intermission, Williams and the starters did not return to the field, paving the way for backup quarterback Tyson Bagent. Recently signed to a two-year, $10 million contract extension, Bagent delivered an impressive performance, completing 20 of 28 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns. His final drive concluded with a 6-yard touchdown pass to rookie undrafted free agent Jahdae Walker, sealing the victory for Chicago.

With the regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings approaching on September 8, 2023, Johnson indicated that he would assess the offensive strategy to ensure improvement. “We might have to ebb and flow a little bit after that opening game,” he said, acknowledging that early-season adjustments may be necessary to determine the team’s identity.

As the Bears look ahead, the focus will be on refining their offensive execution to meet the expectations set for the upcoming season.