In an impressive display during his first preseason game, Caleb Williams led the Chicago Bears to a commanding 38-0 victory against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. Williams, who was the first overall pick in the 2024 draft, made the most of his opportunity, connecting with Olamide Zaccheaus for a stunning 36-yard touchdown on the opening drive.
After sitting out a previous game that ended in a 24-24 tie against Miami, Williams showcased his skills in front of a home crowd. He quickly found his rhythm, completing throws of 18 yards to rookie first-round pick Colston Loveland and 29 yards to tight end Cole Kmet during a game-opening 92-yard march. The highlight of this drive was when Zaccheaus caught a pass on third-and-6, gracefully hurdled a defender, and sprinted into the end zone, demonstrating the explosive potential of the Bears' offense.
Throughout training camp, Williams’ performance has been inconsistent, but he started off strong against Buffalo, completing six of his first seven passes. He finished the game with a total of 10 completions for 102 yards before leaving the field after the second possession.
Following Williams' departure, quarterback Tyson Bagent took command, leading the Bears to three touchdown drives in the second quarter and establishing a 28-0 lead by halftime. Bagent capped off a 61-yard drive with a precise 10-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Scott. Additionally, newly acquired running back Brittain Brown contributed significantly with a 1-yard touchdown run, concluding an impressive 86-yard drive. Another touchdown came from Ian Wheeler, who completed an 84-yard drive with his own 1-yard plunge into the end zone.
On the other side, Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott opted to rest star quarterback Josh Allen and other key starters for the game. As a result, the Bills' backups struggled offensively and defensively throughout the first half. After Wheeler’s touchdown, the Bears dominated the stats, outgaining the Bills 343 yards to just 22, and holding an 18-1 advantage in first downs.
Bagent continued to impress, playing until midway through the third quarter, finishing the game with 197 passing yards on 13 of 22 attempts. In the ground game, Wheeler rushed for 80 yards on 19 carries, while Brown added 73 yards on 16 attempts. In contrast, former Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky replaced starter Mike White for the Bills, completing 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards, while White managed only 4 of 11 for 54 yards.
In terms of injuries, the Bills saw defensive back Jordan Hancock exit in the third quarter due to a shoulder issue. The Bears, however, faced several injury concerns: second-year defensive end Austin Booker injured his knee while covering a kick return and had to leave the game. Booker had been performing well, tallying 4.5 preseason sacks prior to the injury.
Additionally, rookie running back Deion Hankins suffered a knee injury early in the game and did not return, adding to the Bears' running back woes as they were already missing Roschon Johnson and Travis Homer. Cornerback Terell Smith also left on a cart after sustaining a knee injury just before halftime, and defensive end Dominique Robinson suffered an ankle injury later in the game. Rookie wide receiver J.P. Richardson also left in the fourth quarter due to an ankle issue.
As the preseason wraps up, the Bills will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, while the Bears will conclude their preseason schedule against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday. Both teams will be looking to refine their rosters ahead of the regular season, with players eager to showcase their abilities in the final chance to impress their coaching staff.
