Tennessee Titans vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats (Sep 8, 2024)
September 8, 2024 | Soldier Field, Chicago | Attendance: 59,403
Chicago Bears 24, Tennessee Titans 17
The Bears won this game without scoring an offensive touchdown. They gained 148 total yards, forced three fourth-quarter turnovers, and scored 14 points through defense and special teams after trailing 17-0.
Table of Contents
Quick Reference: Key Statistics
| Passing Leaders | Completions/Attempts | Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Levis (TEN) | 19/32 | 127 | 1 | 2 | 52.5 |
| Caleb Williams (CHI) | 14/29 | 93 | 0 | 0 | 55.7 |
| Rushing Leaders | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Pollard (TEN) | 16 | 82 | 5.1 | 1 |
| D’Andre Swift (CHI) | 10 | 30 | 3.0 | 0 |
| Receiving Leaders | Receptions | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calvin Ridley (TEN) | 3 | 50 | 0 |
| DJ Moore (CHI) | 5 | 36 | 0 |
| Defensive Leaders | Tackles | Sacks | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|
| T.J. Edwards (CHI) | 15 | 0 | 1 FR |
| Darrell Taylor (CHI) | 8 | 2 | 1 FF |
Game Flow and Scoring Sequence
Tennessee built their lead through sustained drives and Chicago mistakes. Tony Pollard broke through for a 26-yard touchdown run to cap a 7-play opening possession. Will Levis connected with Chig Okonkwo from 17 yards out after a 14-play drive that consumed 7:38. Nick Folk added three points following Velus Jones Jr.’s fumbled kickoff at Chicago’s 38-yard line.
Chicago’s comeback began just before halftime. DeAndre Carter fielded a kickoff at his own 10-yard line and returned it 67 yards, setting up Cairo Santos’ 24-yard field goal with 33 seconds remaining in the half. Instead of entering the locker room down 17-0, Chicago had points on the board.
The third quarter brought the game’s biggest play. Daniel Hardy broke through Tennessee’s punt protection and blocked Ryan Stonehouse’s kick. Jonathan Owens grabbed the loose ball and scored from 21 yards out, cutting Tennessee’s lead to 17-10. Chicago had scored their first blocked punt touchdown since 2012 – also against Tennessee.
In the fourth quarter, everything unraveled for Tennessee. Santos connected from 50 and 48 yards. Tyrique Stevenson jumped an out route intended for DeAndre Hopkins and returned the interception 43 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. D’Andre Swift caught a two-point conversion pass from Caleb Williams to make it 23-17.
Complete Team Statistics
| Category | Tennessee | Chicago | Impact on Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 244 | 148 | Tennessee +96 advantage meaningless |
| Passing Yards | 104 | 64 | Both QBs struggled |
| Rushing Yards | 140 | 84 | Pollard’s early success neutralized |
| First Downs | 16 | 11 | Tennessee sustained more drives |
| Third Downs | 3/14 (21.4%) | 2/13 (15.4%) | Neither offense converted |
| Fourth Downs | 1/2 (50%) | 2/2 (100%) | Chicago’s aggression worked |
| Red Zone | 1/2 (50%) | 0/1 (0%) | Few opportunities |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 | Game decided here |
| Time of Possession | 34:54 | 25:06 | Tennessee controlled clock |
| Total Plays | 61 | 53 | Tennessee ran more plays |
| Penalties | 8-50 | 7-55 | Both teams disciplined |
Game officials: Dyrol Prioleau, Jeff Seeman, Carl Paganelli, Boris Cheek, Shawn Smith, Alex Moore, Jay Bilbo
Quarterback Analysis
Both quarterbacks faced different challenges. Levis entered his second season with expectations of improvement. Williams made his NFL debut as the first overall pick.
Will Levis – Tennessee Titans
| Statistical Category | Performance | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 19/32 | 59.4% rate |
| Passing Yards | 127 | Career-low production |
| Touchdowns | 1 | 17-yard strike to Okonkwo |
| Interceptions | 2 | Both in fourth quarter |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 | Strip-sack by Taylor |
| Passer Rating | 52.5 | Worst of career (10+ attempts) |
Levis threw for a touchdown in the first half to Okonkwo. His three turnovers came on consecutive fourth-quarter possessions. Darrell Taylor beat his blocker and strip-sacked Levis at Tennessee’s 31-yard line. Two possessions later, Levis tried throwing the ball away while being hit but instead floated it to Stevenson. His final pass, on fourth down with 1:13 left, was intercepted by Jaylon Johnson.
“That was a bonehead play on my part,” Levis said about the pick-six after the game.
Caleb Williams – Chicago Bears
| Statistical Category | Performance | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 14/29 | 48.3% rate |
| Passing Yards | 93 | Modest debut |
| Touchdowns | 0 | No passing scores |
| Interceptions | 0 | Clean performance |
| Rushing | 5 for 15 yards | Added dimension |
| Key Play | 2-point conversion | Extended lead |
Williams faced pressure on nearly one-third of his dropbacks yet avoided turnovers. His 11-yard scramble on third-and-10 kept alive the drive that produced Santos’ go-ahead field goal. Keenan Allen dropped a catchable ball in the second quarter. Williams became the first #1 overall pick to win his debut since David Carr in 2002.
Running Game Production
The ground game told two different stories. Tennessee established dominance early while Chicago never found consistency.
Tennessee Titans Rushing Attack
Tony Pollard controlled the first half before Chicago’s adjustments shut him down.
| Player | Attempts | Yards | Average | TD | Long | First Downs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Pollard | 16 | 82 | 5.1 | 1 | 26 | 5 |
| Will Levis | 4 | 36 | 9.0 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| Tyjae Spears | 4 | 21 | 5.3 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Treylon Burks | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Team Total | 26 | 140 | 5.4 | 1 | 26 | 8 |
Pollard’s touchdown run of 26 yards came in the first quarter. Chicago’s defense limited Tennessee to minimal rushing production in the second half, with the team managing just 8 rushing attempts after halftime.
Chicago Bears Ground Game
| Player | Attempts | Yards | Average | TD | Long | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D’Andre Swift | 10 | 30 | 3.0 | 0 | 20 | 3 first downs |
| Caleb Williams | 5 | 15 | 3.0 | 0 | 11 | 1 first down |
| DJ Moore | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 0 | 14 | End-around |
| Velus Jones Jr. | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 0 | 6 | Limited role |
| Travis Homer | 2 | 10 | 5.0 | 0 | 6 | Backup snaps |
| Khalil Herbert | 2 | 4 | 2.0 | 0 | 4 | Minimal usage |
| Team Total | 22 | 84 | 3.8 | 0 | 20 | 5 first downs |
Swift’s 20-yard run in the second quarter accounted for two-thirds of his production. Chicago attempted just six rushes after halftime while trailing.
Receiving Production
Neither passing attack found rhythm, though Tennessee moved the ball slightly better through the air.
Tennessee Pass Catchers
| Receiver | Targets | Catches | Yards | TDs | Long | Target Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calvin Ridley | 7 | 3 | 50 | 0 | 22 | 25.9% |
| Tyler Boyd | 5 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 11 | 18.5% |
| Tyjae Spears | 4 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 14.8% |
| Tony Pollard | 4 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 14.8% |
| Chig Okonkwo | 2 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 17 | 7.4% |
| Nick Vannett | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 7.4% |
| Treylon Burks | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7.4% |
| DeAndre Hopkins | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 3.7% |
Ridley caught just 3 of 7 targets. Hopkins saw one target all game. The passing game netted 3.0 yards per attempt after accounting for sacks.
Chicago Receiving Corps
| Receiver | Targets | Catches | Yards | TDs | Long | Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keenan Allen | 11 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 9 | 1 drop, 3 batted |
| DJ Moore | 8 | 5 | 36 | 0 | 13 | Double coverage |
| Rome Odunze | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | NFL debut struggles |
| DeAndre Carter | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | Limited snaps |
| Others | 4 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 8 | Minimal impact |
Allen’s 11 targets should have produced more. Tennessee batted down three passes intended for him at the line. Moore caught 5 of 8 targets despite frequent double teams. Odunze managed one catch in his debut.
Defensive Performance Breakdown
The game turned on defensive plays, particularly Chicago’s second-half adjustments.
Chicago Bears Defense
Chicago’s defense transformed after halftime, shutting out Tennessee in the second half after allowing 17 first-half points.
| Player | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | Key Plays | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T.J. Edwards | 15 | 10 | 0 | 2 | Fumble recovery | A |
| Jaquan Brisker | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 run stops | B+ |
| Darrell Taylor | 8 | 7 | 2 | 2 | Strip-sack | A- |
| Tyrique Stevenson | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 43-yard pick-six | A+ |
| Gervon Dexter Sr. | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Interior pressure | B |
| Jaylon Johnson | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | Game-sealing INT | A |
| DeMarcus Walker | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 QB hits | B+ |
Edwards’ 15 tackles included three on third down. Taylor’s strip-sack came at Tennessee’s 31-yard line. Stevenson’s interception return marked his first career touchdown. Johnson’s interception ended Tennessee’s final drive.
Tennessee Titans Defense
Despite losing, Tennessee’s defense held Chicago to 2.8 yards per play.
| Player | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | Pass Deflections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amani Hooker | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Harold Landry III | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Kenneth Murray Jr. | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roger McCreary | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Others | 32 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Performance Notes:
- B+: Forced 7 three-and-outs
- A-: Held Chicago to 15.4% on third down
- B: Limited Chicago to 148 total yards
- C: Couldn’t overcome offensive turnovers
Turnover Details
Three fourth-quarter turnovers decided the game.
| Quarter | Time Left | Player | Type | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 8:42 | Velus Jones Jr. (CHI) | Fumble | CHI 38 | Folk FG (3 points) |
| 3rd | 4:18 | Rome Odunze (CHI) | Fumble | TEN 42 | Recovered by CHI |
| 4th | 9:51 | Will Levis (TEN) | Strip-sack | TEN 31 | Santos FG (3 points) |
| 4th | 5:32 | Will Levis (TEN) | INT | TEN 43 | Stevenson TD (7 points) |
| 4th | 1:13 | Will Levis (TEN) | INT | CHI 42 | Game over |
Tennessee’s turnovers directly created 10 Chicago points. The timing couldn’t have been worse – all three came with Tennessee protecting a lead.
Special Teams: The Difference Maker
Special teams accounted for 10 Chicago points through field goals and 7 more via blocked punt.
Kicking Game
| Kicker | FG Made | Attempts | Long | XP | Points | When It Mattered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo Santos (CHI) | 3 | 3 | 50 | 1/1 | 10 | 2 in 4th quarter |
| Nick Folk (TEN) | 1 | 1 | 40 | 2/2 | 5 | 2nd quarter only |
Santos’ Performance: A Folk’s Performance: B (limited opportunities)
The Historic Blocked Punt
Ryan Stonehouse averaged 53.6 yards on five punts before disaster struck. In the third quarter, Daniel Hardy broke through and blocked Stonehouse’s sixth attempt. Jonathan Owens scooped the ball and scored from 21 yards out.
This ended Chicago’s 189-game drought without a blocked punt touchdown. Both of Chicago’s blocked punt TDs since 2012 have come against Tennessee at Soldier Field.
Return Game Impact
| Returner | KO Returns | KO Yards | PR Returns | PR Yards | Total | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeAndre Carter (CHI) | 1 | 67 | 5 | 64 | 131 | Set up first CHI points |
| Jha’Quan Jackson (TEN) | 5 | 127 | 4 | 30 | 157 | No explosive returns |
| Velus Jones Jr. (CHI) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fumbled |
Return Game Grades:
- Carter: A- (momentum-changing 67-yard return)
- Jackson: C+ (solid but unspectacular)
- Jones: F (costly fumble)
Critical Situations
Third Down Failures
| Distance | Tennessee Success | Chicago Success |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 yards | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 |
| 4-6 yards | 1 of 4 | 1 of 3 |
| 7-9 yards | 0 of 3 | 0 of 4 |
| 10+ yards | 0 of 4 | 0 of 4 |
| Total | 3 of 14 (21.4%) | 2 of 13 (15.4%) |
Tennessee managed just one third-down conversion in the second half (1/7). Chicago went 0-for-6 on third downs requiring 7+ yards.
Fourth Down Decisions
Chicago converted both fourth-down attempts, sustaining drives that produced points. Tennessee failed on their final fourth-down try when Johnson intercepted Levis.
Two-Point Conversion
After Stevenson’s touchdown gave Chicago a 21-17 lead, Matt Eberflus went for two. Williams rolled right and found Swift in the flat. The conversion made it 23-17, forcing Tennessee to score a touchdown plus conversion to win rather than just a touchdown with an extra point.
Historical Significance
Caleb Williams: First #1 overall pick to win his debut since David Carr (2002)
Chicago’s Defense: First team since 2020 to win with under 150 total yards and zero offensive TDs
17-Point Comeback: Chicago’s largest since Week 1, 2020 vs Detroit
Blocked Punt TD: First in 189 games (previous: November 4, 2012 vs Tennessee)
Will Levis: Posted career-worst 52.5 passer rating (minimum 10 attempts)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many yards did Caleb Williams throw for in his debut?
A: Williams completed 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Q: Who scored Chicago’s touchdowns?
A: Jonathan Owens scored on a 21-yard blocked punt return. Tyrique Stevenson returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown. Chicago scored no offensive touchdowns.
Q: What was Tony Pollard’s rushing performance?
A: Pollard rushed 16 times for 82 yards and a touchdown, leading all rushers. His 26-yard touchdown run came in the first quarter.
Q: How many field goals did Cairo Santos make?
A: Santos made all three attempts from 24, 50, and 48 yards, scoring 10 of Chicago’s 24 points.
Q: Did Tennessee really outgain Chicago?
A: Yes, Tennessee had 244 total yards to Chicago’s 148, controlled possession for nearly 35 minutes, and recorded 16 first downs to Chicago’s 11.
Q: What changed in the second half?
A: Chicago’s defense allowed just 65 yards after giving up 179 in the first half. Tennessee managed only 25 rushing yards and turned the ball over three times in the fourth quarter.
Q: Was this Levis’ worst game?
A: His 52.5 passer rating was a career low in games where he attempted at least 10 passes. He also committed three turnovers in the fourth quarter alone.
Final Analysis
Tennessee dominated statistically. They gained more yards (244-148), controlled possession longer (34:54-25:06), and earned more first downs (16-11). They ran 61 plays to Chicago’s 53 and averaged 4.0 yards per play compared to Chicago’s 2.8.
None of it mattered.
Chicago forced turnovers when they needed them. Their special teams scored seven points and set up ten more. Their defense shut out Tennessee in the second half. Williams avoided the catastrophic mistake that Levis couldn’t.
This game proves an old football truth: yards don’t win games, points do. Tennessee learned this lesson the hard way. Chicago discovered their defense and special teams can carry them through offensive struggles. The Bears won with 148 total yards, the lowest total for a winning team in Week 1.
For additional Week 1 coverage: Baltimore Ravens vs Los Angeles Chargers statistics | Denver Broncos vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers breakdown
Complete box score: Pro Football Reference | Game recap: Chicago Bears Official Site
