ChicagoThe Chicago Bears easily defeated the Buffalo Bills 38-0 on Sunday night in their preseason opener, thanks in large part to Caleb Williams’ 36-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus on the first drive.
In his first opportunity to run coach Ben Johnson’s offense during a game, Williams came out firing against Buffalo (0-2) after missing a 24-24 tie with Miami the previous week.
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On a 92-yard march that ended when Zaccheaus caught a throw in the middle of the field on third-and-six, ducked a tackler, and ran the length of the field, the first pick in the 2024 draft completed throws of 18 yards to rookie first-round pick Colston Loveland and 29 yards to tight end Cole Kmet.
Williams has had inconsistent play during training camp, but he was quick right away. After the second possession, he exited after hitting six of his first seven throws. He gained 102 yards on 6 of 10 plays.
Tyson Bagent took over and led three touchdown drives in the second quarter, giving the Bears (1-0-1) a 28-0 halftime advantage.
Bagent hit Tyler Scott with a 10-yard strike in the end zone corner to complete a 61-yard drive. Before halftime, Ian Wheeler’s 1-yard touchdown run completed an 84-yard drive, while newly acquired Bears running back Brittain Brown ended an 86-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge.
Josh Allen, the current MVP, and all of his other starters were benched by Bills coach Sean McDermott. Throughout the first half, Buffalo’s backups had trouble on both sides of the ball.
Following Wheeler’s touchdown plunge, the Bears had an 18-1 lead in first downs and had outgained the Bills 343 yards to 22.
Wheeler carried 19 times for 80 yards, Brown 16 times for 73 yards, and Bagent played until the middle of the third quarter, going 13 of 22 for 197 yards.
After replacing Bills starter Mike White, former Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky completed 7 of 13 throws for 56 yards. White scored 54 yards on 4 of 11 plays.
Holding out for it
Neither of Buffalo’s preseason games have featured Allen. Since joining the league in 2018, he has thrown at least three passes in each preseason.
James Cook, a running back who had been staging a hold-in before obtaining a contract extension, was also kept out. This week, Cook went back to practice.
Damage
Bills: DB Due to a shoulder injury, Jordan Hancock left the game in the third quarter.
Bears: Year two DE Austin Booker did not return after suffering a knee injury during a kick return. With 4 1/2 preseason sacks, including 1 1/2 against the Bills in the first half, Booker got off to a quick start. On the second possession, rookie running back Deion Hankins sustained a knee injury and was unable to return. Travis Homer and Roschon Johnson, two running backs, were already out for the Bears. … CB Terell Smith departed the field on a cart after suffering a knee injury on a tackle just before halftime. DE Due to an ankle injury, Dominique Robinson exited during the second half. In the fourth quarter, rookie wide receiver J.P. Richardson exited due to an ankle injury.
Next up
Bills: Play Tampa Bay on Saturday to finish the preseason.
Bears: Visit Kansas City on Friday to wrap off the preseason.
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