Chicago Bears @ Kansas City Chiefs
Final Score: Bears 29, Chiefs 27
Writer: Cesar Escajeda
Starters for both sides got some meaningful snaps on Friday night, and while Chicago came out with a final-second win in this preseason finale, it was Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs who thoroughly impressed.
Two Up
- Patrick Mahomes – It really didn’t look the the perennial AFC Champion quarterback had any rust in this one. He was mobile, scrambling when needed around the Bears’ defensive front, and found receiver after receiver open across the field for 2 TDs in the starting unit’s first three possessions. If there were any lasting effects from the drubbing they received against Philadelphia six months ago, Mahomes didn’t show it here. This team looks ready to compete in 2025.
- Tyson Bagent – Caleb Williams is entrenched as the starter in new HC Ben Johnson‘s system, but Bagent is as good a backup as any should the need ever arise. He lead the Bears’ to their two-point win after the starters fell behind 20-10, and was crisp in doing so – going 20/28 for 212 yards and 3 TDs. After finding himself in the headlines for his $10 million extension this week, he backed up the money with some solid play to close out the preseason.
One Down
- Caleb Williams – His night wasn’t bad on paper at all, going 11/15 for 113 and a score. Instead, his placement here is because of the fact that it took four whole possessions for Chicago to score their first TD. The first play from scrimmage Williams had, he fumbled the hand-off to D’Andre Swift, losing a handful of yards and putting the Bears behind the sticks – the theme for Chicago in the first half. It was promising to see him make better decisions and use his mobility when needed as the game wore on, but in his second season leading this team, there are loftier expectations for the offense and Williams as a whole.
Chicago Bears
Quarterback
Caleb Williams: 11/15, 113 Yards, TD, Fumble (Recovered) | 2 Carries, 18 Yards
Some meat was left on the bone for Chicago in this one, but the potential is certainly there.
Notes
- Williams had a decent performance all things considered, taking care of the football and utilizing his talent as a runner to push the starting offense forward against a stout Chiefs’ defensive unit. Sputtering to start the game drew the ire of head coach Ben Johnson, but to finish his night he found Rome Odunze on back to back passes to drive down the field and score. The weapons are in place across the board for the Bears, and with Johnson at the helm, it should be a better season for the former first overall pick.
Tyson Bagent: 20/28, 212 Yards, 3 TDs | 2 Carries, 10 Yards
Running Back
D’Andre Swift: 7 Carries, 28 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 6 Yards
It wasn’t the flashiest of nights for Swift on the ground, but with the litany of injuries in Chicago’s backfield he may be called early and often to start the season.
Notes
- Taking away his long run of 12 yards on the night, the veteran RB only gained 16 yards on 6 carries against the likes of Chris Jones and the starting Kansas City D. It definitely wasn’t the numbers you’d hope for, but the fact that he was called upon frequently on Chicago’s first three drives spells some hope that he can manage a workhorse load to start the season.
Brittain Brown: 13 Carries, 27 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 7 Yards
Notes
- With the injuries to Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer, and rookies Kyle Monangai and Deion Hankins, it was Brown who got the work immediately following Swift. He earned the most carries for Chicago RBs on the night, but his performance wasn’t exactly spectacular.
Royce Freeman: 5 Carries, 22 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 10 Yards, TD
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Rome Odunze: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 45 Yards, TD
Odunze caught the first team’s only TD on the night, and lead the way across all Bears wideouts in yards gained.
Notes
- His TD on the fourth and final drive before halftime followed a great effort on the catch before it. He was wide open on the throw from Williams, dodging his way through three KC defenders to get earn 37 yards and put the Bears on the doorstep of the endzone. His connection with Williams was certainly display with the amount of balls thrown his direction on the night – if it’s any indication, the season looks promising for some big numbers for the second year receiver out of Washington.
DJ Moore: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 14 Yards
Colston Loveland: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Luther Burden III: 1 Carry, 9 Yards
Olamide Zaccheaus: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 37 Yards
Durham Smythe: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 23 Yards
Myles Boykin: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards
Jahdae Walker: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 37 Yards, TD
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: 8/13, 143 Yards, TD | 1 Carry, 18 Yards
Not much of a missed beat here for the All-Pro.
Notes
- Mahomes and the starters got three drives to shake the rust off, but they looked to be in mid-season form as they drove the ball against a tougher Chicago defensive unit. He directed receivers, scrambled out of the pocket, and bought time on throw after throw to gain chunk yardage early on. Mahomes showed solid accuracy in his short and mid-range throws across the field, and wasn’t afraid to take a handful of downfield shots on the evening. His numbers would have been even better if it weren’t for a few dropped passes, the most egregious of which coming from RB Kareem Hunt in the endzone. The Chiefs had to settle for a field goal on the drive, the only dent against the starting unit for Kansas City.
Gardner Minshew: 4/9, 37 Yards | 2 Carries, 4 Yards
Bailey Zappe: 4/6, 25 Yards
Chris Oladokun: 1/3, 50 Yards | 1 Carry, 10 Yards
Running Back
Isiah Pacheco: 3 Carries, 21 Yards, TD
Pacheco got the call to start the game, but there were a few red flags on his night.
Notes
- Pacheco had a long run of 13, and averaged a healthy 4.0 yards on his two other rushes – but was fairly uninvolved in the passing game. It was also a little concerning to see the likes of Hunt and Brashard Smith in the backfield eating into his opportunities with the starting offense. This could simply be because its the preseason, but none of the other skills players were held back. If it ends up being a timeshare in this backfield, its encouraging that Pacheco gets first dibs – but his numbers may be capped for fantasy purposes.
Kareem Hunt: 3 Carries, 15 Yards | 1 Target
Brashard Smith: 2 Carries, 1 Yard | 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 12 Yards
Elijah Mitchell: 3 Carries, 14 Yards, TD
Carson Steele: 5 Carries, 16 Yards
Nice and limited for Pacheco, to the point where he didn’t even get a carry. Nothing to see here but prepare for the regular season.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Rashee Rice: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards, TD
Potential suspension aside, Rice picked right back up where he left off before his injury as Mahomes’ go-to in the WR corps.
Notes
- It was encouraging to see Mahomes target Rice early, and he didn’t shy away from contact after the catch. His TD capped the night for KC’s starters and showcased that he hasn’t lost a step since suffering that season-ender.
Travis Kelce: 3 Targets, 2 Reception, 32 Yards
Xavier Worthy: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards
JuJu Smith-Schuster: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 19 Yards
Tyquan Thornton: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 58 Yards
Jason Brownlee: 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 16 Yards
Jimmy Holiday: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 50 Yards