6 takeaways from the Bears' 38-0 preseason win vs. the Bills
It was essentially a perfect game for the Bears, and it started out with an impressive touchdown drive from quarterback Caleb Williams. With much of the starting offense on the field, Williams orchestrated a seven-play drive that culminated with a touchdown strike to wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus. It was the first game action Williams had under Ben Johnson, and it left fans feeling excited as to what might be coming in the future.
From there, the Bears didn't let up. Every phase at every level dominated Buffalo, who only had two scoring chances the entire game, including a missed field goal. For the Bears offense, scoring drives came from Tyson Bagent and Austin Reed, who both had solid performances operating the offense. The Bears finished the game with 580 total yards. Defensively, Chicago was stifling and allowed very few big plays. The Bills were only able to get 180 total yards throughout the game.
Now that the second preseason game is in the books, here are our instant takeaways from the game.
1. Caleb Williams looks at home in Ben Johnson's offense
Williams not only looked good during his brief time on the field; he looked comfortable. That's not something we have seen in quite a long time. For much of last year, Williams was either running for his life or unsure of where to put the ball on passing plays. Even during last year's preseason, he was making throws but had to make something out of nothing at times. Not on Sunday.
Williams was quick and deliberate with his throws, completing 6 of 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. You can argue all but one target was catchable, and he wasn't afraid to throw it near the sidelines or the middle of the field. We'll see if that same comfort level exists when Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard are barreling down on him come Week 1. For now, though, Williams looks like he belongs in Ben Johnson's offense.
2. Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet will be fine together
Just because the Bears spent a first-round pick on tight end Colston Loveland doesn't mean Cole Kmet's targets will dry up. It's been a talking point for much of the offseason, but we finally saw how the Bears can utilize both tight ends. In the first series, Loveland and Kmet were both on the field together for multiple plays.
The rookie was split out wide at times and also played inside, catching two passes for 26 yards. Kmet, meanwhile, had one reception for 29 yards. They were involved early on, giving Williams two reliable targets to work with as he settled into a rhythm. Both guys should see plenty of opportunities throughout the season, even if they happen to come in waves.
3. Luther Burden can do it all
When the Bears drafted Luther Burden with the No. 39 overall pick in April, his talent as a receiver was evident right away. He's lethal with the ball in his hands and can do a lot of different things. Questions surrounding his willingness to block and do the dirty work away from the ball had come up, however. Based on Sunday's game, that shouldn't be much of a concern going forward.
Burden was excellent against the Bills' defense, catching three passes for 49 yards. It was his effort as a blocker, though, that has everyone's attention. On two touchdown drives, Burden was tasked with sealing the defender on the edge of the defensive line near the end zone. He delivered both times, laying big hits that easily allowed the runner to get into the end zone. Those plays emulate Johnson's mantra of "No block, no rock" that he instilled earlier this offseason. With plays like that, Burden will see many more opportunities during the regular seasons and won't just be a situational receiver. That's the type of progress you want to see.
4. Braxton Jones is going to win the left tackle competition
Last week's joint practice seemed to indicate there is no end in sight when it comes to the Bears' left tackle competition. The combination of Braxton Jones, Ozzy Trapilo, Theo Benedet, and Kiran Amegadjie struggled against the Bills' defense, and the coaching staff wasn't exactly encouraged by the results up to this point. After Sunday's game, however, it feels like Jones will be the one to come out on top.
Though he's still getting back to 100% following his ankle surgery, Jones was solid during his two drives with the starters. He didn't allow Williams to get touched and only seemed to miss his defender one time, which didn't impact the timing of the pass play. All of the tackles looked good on Sunday against the Bills' reserves, but Jones is the best man for the job out of all of the options. I expect him to be named the starter within the next week, and hopefully he continues to get healthier before the season begins.
5. Tyson Bagent took back control of the backup QB job
Things looked a little dicey for quarterback Tyson Bagent following last weekend's game against the Miami Dolphins. With Case Keenum nipping at his heels, it seemed like the backup quarterback job was as open as ever. Things may have changed after Sunday night. Bagent looked much sharper against the Bills defense, completing 13-of-22 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown to Tyler Scott.
Since Keenum wasn't able to play after suffering an injury last week in practice, that meant more snaps for Bagent. He took advantage by leading three straight scoring drives with some impressive moves in the pocket to avoid pressure. That's something Keenum can't do at this stage of his career. We'll see how long Keenum's injury keeps him out for, but it feels like Bagent isn't losing his job anytime soon.
6. Defensive injuries are concerning
Everything was perfect for the Bears on Sunday night at Soldier Field—except when it came to injuries. The Bears had multiple players exit the game, including a few impactful reserves on defense that could be long-term injuries. Cornerback Terell Smith suffered a non-contact knee injury and needed to be carted off in an emotional scene. Johnson said the injury "didn't look good" during his press conference after the game.
Another injury to monitor happened to defensive end Austin Booker, who has shined throughout the preseason. Booker left the game early with a knee injury and, after spending time in the injury tent, went to the locker room. It's unclear what his issue is, but losing him and Smith in one game would be significant. Each player was counted on to be a top rotational player at their respective positions, and the Bears are already thin at cornerback. Depending on the status of Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, the Bears' cornerback room could be in trouble going into Week 1.
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The Wizard of OZ 🪄 📺: FOX — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 18, 2025 Best of all, Williams had his latest reminder that the weight of responsibility on his shoulders doesn't have to feel as heavy as it sometimes might. Not with a refurbished Bears offensive line offering him more time and more comfort. Not with so many capable playmakers around him. Not with new head coach Ben Johnson serving as an innovative offensive mind and proven play caller who has pushed his quarterback to understand the value of playing point guard rather than superhero. Advertisement That messaging has been consistent. Lean on the design of each play. Distribute. Watch yards pile like a pinball score as receivers, backs and tight ends find the adrenalizing run-after-catch expressway. 'That's huge,' Zaccheaus said Sunday. 'Huge. Especially with all the playmakers we have on this team. That's definitely a big part of this offense.' 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The TD pass to Zaccheaus was simply the punctuation on a 92-yard march on which Williams completed five of his six passes to four players for 97 yards. In the big picture, that series offered a snapshot of progress for Williams — with the pre-snap operation, with the command in his play, with the understanding of what is being asked of him and what is not. 'He has really been locked in,' Johnson said Sunday night. 'Anytime you're a young player, there's usually a couple of steps forward, then one step back. And that's really been the story of this training camp. He and I have been really open and honest about it as we've gone through it. He has had some really good practices. And then he's had a couple where it's like, 'That's not good enough, bud.'' Last week, though, Johnson felt Williams stacked three encouraging practices together, then followed with a crisp performance on game night. 'The challenge,' Johnson said, 'is going to be to keep pushing in that direction.' Added Williams: 'From a month ago, I think I've grown a lot. Now, my mindset is to keep growing.' Advertisement Some of that growth will come in how Williams learns to trust the offensive system and the multitude of weapons around him while relying less on his arm talent and off-script magic to create explosive plays. Johnson appreciates the playmaking gifts of his young starting quarterback. But the Bears coach also understands his responsibility in alleviating pressure from Williams and creating fuel-efficient opportunities for explosive plays. That was part of Johnson's reasoning in publicly vocalizing a 70 percent completion rate goal for Williams. It's also why Johnson continually emphasizes the importance of creating an offense that can be among the league's best in passing EPA (expected points added). The Lions, for what it's worth, were third in passing EPA per dropback last season (0.26); the Bears ranked 28th (-0.05). 'There are different ways to create an efficient passing game,' Johnson said earlier this month. 'And that's where, talking with Caleb, the completion percentage has to increase over the course of camp. Plus, our skill guys have to understand: put a foot in the ground and get vertical. You're not going to outrun guys sideways.' For Johnson and Bears receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, the reminders of 'catch and knife' to their pass catchers aren't just a casual suggestion. That's a way of life in Johnson's offense and why the Bears coach sometimes flips out when he sees players moving horizontally with the ball. 'We need to get north and south,' Johnson said. 'Because that extra 3 and 4 yards is going to be better than running sideways to only get an extra 1 or 2. And you've got to drill it. You've got to talk about it. You've got to be about it. You've got to believe in it.' Count Zaccheaus among the believers in that concept, evidenced by his big score Sunday night. That also gave Zaccheaus heightened belief in Williams, whom he described as 'very calm' in their first preseason game together. Advertisement 'He was composed,' Zaccheaus said, 'and just in the moment. That was good to see. Now we have to keep building on that.' That building process will continue this week with the Bears preceding Friday's preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs with a demanding padded practice on Wednesday. Then, as the Bears cross the bridge from the preseason to Week 1, they will work to tighten all the details within their offense. Still, Sunday's first drive was promising for Williams, capped with a TD pass that offered a valuable lesson on how small details and crisp execution can lead to big production. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
