The Chicago Bears defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 34-21 on Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium. The win over the two-time defending Super Bowl champions moved the Bears to a 4-0 preseason record. It was the first time they have achieved a 4-0 preseason record since 1994.
Say what you will about it being the preseason, but the Bears have played well in every game, which speaks to the talent on the roster – both the starters and the reserves, who shined in Thursday night’s win.
The regulars didn’t play for either team in this game, so it wasn’t the Patrick Mahomes vs. Caleb Williams show many were hoping for, but the game did offer one last look at the benched players trying to earn a spot on the roster as roster reduction day approaches this Tuesday.
Now that this game (and the preseason) is over, it’s time for the Bears to make some very difficult decisions. We analyze the game and what it could mean for the future:
Final score: Bears 34, Chiefs 21
Key to the game
Here, too, depth came into play: The Bears showed some depth in the preseason. They beat teams no matter who was in the game. Everyone in every area of the game (offense, defense, special teams) did their job in this game. There were players all over the field making impactful plays that you wouldn’t even call the stars of the game. Guys like receiver Nsimba Webster, tight end Tommy Sweeney, defensive end Dashaun Mallory and defensive end Daniel Hardy all played their best. The depth will make for some exciting roster decisions for GM Ryan Poles next week.
The Bears have a backup QB they can trust: Chicago is relying heavily on Caleb Williams to lead them to the promised land. He’s a key part of their present and future, and they need him on the field more often if they want to win. However, if backup Tyson Bagent needs to play for some reason, they’re in a good position. Bagent had a strong finish to his preseason, completing 3 of 6 passes for 57 yards, as well as a 7-yard rushing touchdown that put his athleticism on full display.
4:0 is impressive: There will be people who will downplay the fact that the Bears were 4-0 in the preseason as if that doesn’t matter. Well, ultimately it won’t matter if they have that awful regular season. However, it did instill a winning culture of sorts within the organization. Guys came to training camp and did what they could to always have a winning mentality. It showed on the field in every game. Even in that final game against the Chiefs, they could’ve brushed it off, knowing cuts and the regular season were looming. Instead, they played well as if they had something to prove. Chicago actually does have something to prove for being so bad for so long. Now they can go into Week 1 with some pride and belief that they can succeed.
It was over when…
Quarterback Austin Reed connected with Tommy Sweeney for a six-yard touchdown that gave Chicago a 27-7 lead. Normally, a 20-point lead in the third quarter means a win. But anything can happen, as we saw when Kansas City scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. But luckily, the game was out of reach even before that, and for the Chiefs, it was too little, too late.
3 Stars of the game
***WR Tyler Scott: There are many offensive players on the team that could have been the third star of the game, but Scott deserves the nod. He had six catches for 99 yards, where he saw a lot of playing time. He was the team’s best player in both categories and was a big part of the team scoring so many points. He didn’t make it into the end zone, but he is the reason they scored so many points on certain drives.
** CB Reddy Steward: The undrafted rookie is trying to make the team and he was great in the last preseason game. He’s been great throughout training camp and preseason, but this game was his best performance yet. He totaled two tackles, but his two interceptions were the highlight, both in key situations. His second pick got him 48 yards and was instrumental in giving Chicago a big lead. Steward was a ball-hunter in college and is doing a great job of bringing that greatness to the NFL.
* WR Velus Jones Jr.: The former third-round pick never really became a receiver the Bears could fully utilize. For some reason, he never clicked like some other players drafted so early. Jones came into this training camp looking to make the team, considering how his first few years went. And perhaps the biggest help was the coaching staff’s decision to try him out as a running back, which paid off. Jones had 13 carries for 111 yards (8.5 avg.) and a touchdown, while adding two receptions for 11 yards. Preseason or not, it was his best game as a pro. After a night like that, it would certainly be hard to cut him. He stood out as much as any player on the team. Whether as a runner, pass receiver, or on special teams, he may deserve another chance in 2024.
What’s next?
The preseason is officially over, which means it’s roster cut time on Tuesday, August 27. That’s the lead-up to week one, when the Bears host the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field on September 8. Before that, you can catch episode four of “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears” on Tuesday on HBO and streaming on Max. This episode should be a great way to end the tryout season.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Chiefs: Everything we know about Chicago’s preseason win
