The Tennessee Titans vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats in an electrifying Week 1 NFL game on September 8, 2024, at Soldier Field, Chicago. The Bears staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 17-point deficit to secure a 24-17 victory. This game showcased standout performances, critical plays, and intriguing player stats that shaped the outcome. In this article, we’ll dive into the player statistics, key moments, and what they mean for both teams, presented in a clear and engaging way for fans of all ages. Whether you’re a die-hard football enthusiast or just curious about the game, this breakdown will keep you hooked!
Game Overview: A Thrilling Comeback
The Titans started strong, jumping to a 17-0 lead by halftime, thanks to a rushing touchdown by Tony Pollard, a field goal by Nick Folk, and a passing touchdown from Will Levis to Chigoziem Okonkwo. However, the Bears fought back in the second half, fueled by a blocked punt return for a touchdown, three field goals by Cairo Santos, and a game-changing interception return for a touchdown by Tyrique Stevenson. The Bears’ resilience and defensive plays turned the tide, making this a memorable opener for the 2024 NFL season.
Below, we’ll explore the player stats for both teams, focusing on quarterbacks, rushing, receiving, defense, and special teams. All stats are sourced from reliable outlets like ESPN, Pro-Football-Reference, and Sportskeeda to ensure accuracy. Let’s break it down!
Team Tennessee Titans vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats at a Glance
Before diving into individual performances, here’s a quick look at the team stats to set the stage:
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Total Yards: Titans 244, Bears 148
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Rushing Yards: Titans 140, Bears 84
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Passing Yards: Titans 104, Bears 64
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First Downs: Titans 16, Bears 11
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Turnovers: Titans 3 (2 interceptions, 1 fumble lost), Bears 1 (1 fumble lost)
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Time of Possession: Titans 34:54, Bears 25:06
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Third Down Efficiency: Titans 3/14 (21.4%), Bears 2/13 (15.4%)
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Penalties: Titans 8 for 50 yards, Bears 7 for 55 yards
The Titans dominated in yardage and possession but struggled with turnovers, which proved costly. The Bears, despite fewer yards, capitalized on key moments to secure the win. Now, let’s look at the players who made the difference.
Quarterback Performances
Tennessee Titans: Will Levis
Will Levis, the Titans’ second-year quarterback, showed flashes of potential but also areas for improvement. Here’s how he performed:
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Completions/Attempts: 19/32 (59.4%)
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Passing Yards: 127
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Touchdowns: 1 (to Chigoziem Okonkwo)
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Interceptions: 2
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Passer Rating: 52.5
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Rushing: 4 carries for 36 yards (longest: 15 yards)
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Sacks: 3 for 23 yards lost
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Fumbles: 1 (lost)
Levis started strong, connecting with Okonkwo for a 17-yard touchdown in the second quarter. His mobility added 36 rushing yards, showing his dual-threat capability. However, his two interceptions, including a critical pick-six by Tyrique Stevenson in the fourth quarter, were pivotal in the Titans’ loss. Levis’ decision-making under pressure will be a focus moving forward, but his ability to extend plays with his legs is a bright spot.
Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams, the Bears’ No. 1 overall draft pick, made his NFL debut. His stats reflect a conservative approach but a steady performance:
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Completions/Attempts: 14/29 (48.3%)
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Passing Yards: 93
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Touchdowns: 0
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Interceptions: 0
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Passer Rating: 55.7
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Rushing: 5 carries for 15 yards (longest: 11 yards)
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Sacks: 2 for 29 yards lost
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Fumbles: 1 (not lost)
Williams didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he avoided turnovers, which was crucial for the Bears’ comeback. His longest completion was 13 yards, and he leaned heavily on short passes to players like D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen. Williams also contributed a two-point conversion pass to D’Andre Swift after Stevenson’s interception return. For a rookie in his first game, Williams showed poise, and his performance suggests room for growth as he adjusts to the NFL.
Rushing Leaders
Tennessee Titans: Tony Pollard Shines
The Titans’ ground game was a strength, led by running back Tony Pollard:
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Carries: 16
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Yards: 82
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Touchdowns: 1 (26-yard run)
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Yards per Carry: 5.1
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Longest Run: 26 yards
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First Downs: 5
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Broken Tackles: 3
Pollard was the Titans’ offensive star, opening the scoring with a 26-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. His ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact (38 yards after contact) kept drives alive. Tyjae Spears complemented Pollard with 4 carries for 21 yards (5.3 yards per carry), and Levis added 36 yards on 4 scrambles. The Titans’ 140 rushing yards and 5.4 yards per carry highlight their effective ground attack, which controlled the clock but couldn’t overcome turnovers.
Chicago Bears: Balanced but Limited
The Bears’ rushing attack was less explosive but spread across multiple players:
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D’Andre Swift: 10 carries, 30 yards (3.0 yards per carry), longest 20 yards
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Caleb Williams: 5 carries, 15 yards (3.0 yards per carry), longest 11 yards
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D.J. Moore: 1 carry, 14 yards
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Velus Jones Jr.: 2 carries, 11 yards
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Travis Homer: 2 carries, 10 yards
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Khalil Herbert: 2 carries, 4 yards
Swift led the Bears with 30 yards, but no rusher found the end zone. The Bears’ 84 total rushing yards and 3.8 yards per carry reflect a conservative approach, with Williams’ scrambles adding a small spark. The Bears leaned on their defense and special teams to win, but their rushing game will need more consistency to compete against stronger opponents.
Receiving Leaders
Tennessee Titans: Calvin Ridley Leads
The Titans’ passing game was spread across multiple targets, with Calvin Ridley topping the list:
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Calvin Ridley: 3 receptions, 50 yards (longest: 22 yards)
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Tyler Boyd: 3 receptions, 18 yards
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Chigoziem Okonkwo: 2 receptions, 15 yards, 1 touchdown (17 yards)
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Tony Pollard: 3 receptions, 12 yards
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Tyjae Spears: 4 receptions, 11 yards
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Nick Vannett: 2 receptions, 11 yards
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DeAndre Hopkins: 1 reception, 8 yards
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Treylon Burks: 1 reception, 2 yards
Ridley was Levis’ go-to target, averaging 16.7 yards per catch. Okonkwo’s touchdown catch was a highlight, showing his potential as a tight-end weapon. However, the Titans’ passing game struggled with efficiency, averaging just 3.0 yards per attempt, and Levis’ interceptions hurt their momentum. DeAndre Hopkins, a star receiver, was surprisingly quiet with only one catch, suggesting the Titans need to involve him more.
Chicago Bears: D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen Anchor
The Bears’ receiving corps was led by veterans D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen:
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D.J. Moore: 5 receptions, 36 yards (longest: 13 yards)
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Keenan Allen: 4 receptions, 29 yards
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Rome Odunze: 1 reception, 11 yards
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Velus Jones Jr.: 1 reception, 8 yards
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DeAndre Carter: 1 reception, 6 yards
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Cole Kmet: 1 reception, 4 yards
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Gerald Everett: 1 reception, -1 yard
Moore and Allen were reliable targets for Williams, combining for 9 of his 14 completions. Rookie Rome Odunze had a quiet debut with one catch, but his 11-yard reception showed promise. The Bears’ passing game was limited, averaging 2.1 yards per attempt, but their low-risk approach avoided costly mistakes. Expect Williams to target his playmakers more as he gains confidence.
Defensive Standouts
Tennessee Titans: Harold Landry and Amani Hooker
The Titans’ defense held the Bears to 148 total yards, with key contributions from:
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Harold Landry III: 1 sack, 6 tackles (3 solo), 1 tackle for loss
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Sebastian Joseph-Day: 1 sack, 3 tackles (2 solo), 2 tackles for loss
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Amani Hooker: 6 tackles (5 solo), 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
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Kenneth Murray: 6 tackles (3 solo)
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Roger McCreary: 5 tackles (4 solo), 3 tackles for loss
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L’Jarius Sneed: 4 tackles (3 solo)
Landry and Joseph-Day pressured Williams, combining for 2 sacks. Hooker’s forced fumble and pass deflections disrupted the Bears’ offense early. Despite their efforts, the Titans’ defense couldn’t stop Chicago’s special teams and defensive scores in the second half.
Chicago Bears: Tyrique Stevenson Steals the Show
The Bears’ defense was the game-changer, with Tyrique Stevenson delivering the decisive play:
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Tyrique Stevenson: 1 interception (43-yard touchdown return), 4 tackles, 2 passes defended
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Jaylon Johnson: 1 interception, 3 tackles, 2 passes defended
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Darrell Taylor: 2 sacks, 8 tackles (7 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss
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Gervon Dexter: 1 sack, 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
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T.J. Edwards: 15 tackles (10 solo), 1 fumble recovery
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Jaquan Brisker: 9 tackles (5 solo)
Stevenson’s pick-six in the fourth quarter flipped the game, and Johnson’s interception earlier limited the Titans’ chances. Taylor’s two sacks disrupted Levis, while Edwards led with an impressive 15 tackles. The Bears’ defense was relentless, forcing three turnovers and scoring directly, which was the difference-maker.
Special Teams Highlights
Tennessee Titans: Nick Folk and Ryan Stonehouse
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Nick Folk (Kicker): 1/1 field goals (40 yards), 2/2 extra points, 5 points
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Ryan Stonehouse (Punter): 5 punts, 268 yards (53.6 yards per punt), longest 59 yards
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Jha’Quan Jackson (Returns): 5 kick returns for 127 yards (25.4 yards per return), 4 punt returns for 30 yards (7.5 yards per return)
Folk was perfect on his kicks, and Stonehouse’s punting was solid, but a blocked punt returned for a touchdown by the Bears was a turning point.
Chicago Bears: Cairo Santos and Jonathan Owens
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Cairo Santos (Kicker): 3/3 field goals (50, 48, 24 yards), 1/1 extra points, 10 points
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Tory Taylor (Punter): 6 punts, 270 yards (45.0 yards per punt), longest 60 yards
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Jonathan Owens: 21-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown
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DeAndre Carter (Returns): 1 kick return for 67 yards, 5 punt returns for 64 yards (12.8 yards per return)
Santos was clutch, scoring 10 points with three field goals, including two long ones in the fourth quarter. Owens’ blocked punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter sparked the Bears’ comeback. Carter’s 67-yard kick return set up a scoring drive, highlighting Chicago’s special teams edge.
Key Moments and Game-Changing Plays
The game’s turning points came in the second half:
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First Quarter: Titans Strike First
Tony Pollard’s 26-yard touchdown run capped an 8-play, 79-yard drive, giving the Titans a 7-0 lead. -
Second Quarter: Titans Extend Lead
Nick Folk’s 40-yard field goal and Levis’ 17-yard touchdown pass to Okonkwo put the Titans up 17-0. The Bears answered with a 24-yard field goal by Santos, making it 17-3 at halftime. -
Third Quarter: Bears Fight Back
Jonathan Owens’ 21-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown cut the Titans’ lead to 17-10, shifting momentum. -
Fourth Quarter: Santos and Stevenson Seal It
Cairo Santos hit field goals of 50 and 48 yards to close the gap to 17-16. Then, Tyrique Stevenson’s 43-yard interception return for a touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion, gave the Bears a 24-17 lead with 7:35 left. The Titans couldn’t respond, and Chicago held on.
What the Stats Tell Us
Titans’ Strengths and Weaknesses
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Strength: The Titans’ rushing attack, led by Pollard, was dominant, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Their time of possession (34:54) showed they controlled the game’s pace.
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Weakness: Turnovers (three, including two interceptions) and a blocked punt were catastrophic. Levis’ decision-making and the lack of involvement from Hopkins need attention.
Bears’ Strengths and Weaknesses
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Strength: The Bears’ defense and special teams were game-changers, scoring 14 points directly (blocked punt and pick-six). Santos’ perfect kicking kept them in the game.
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Weakness: The offense struggled, with only 148 total yards and no offensive touchdowns. Williams and the passing game need to develop chemistry with their receivers.
Looking Ahead
For the Titans, reducing turnovers and maximizing players like DeAndre Hopkins will be key. Their rushing attack is a foundation to build on, but Levis must improve under pressure. The Bears, meanwhile, showed resilience but need offensive firepower to complement their defense. Caleb Williams’ growth will be critical as they face tougher opponents.
Conclusion
The Tennessee Titans vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats on September 8, 2024, was a tale of two halves. The Titans’ early dominance gave way to a Bears’ comeback fueled by defense and special teams. Standout performances from Tony Pollard, Tyrique Stevenson, and Cairo Santos defined the game, while quarterbacks Will Levis and Caleb Williams showed both promise and room for improvement. This matchup was a thrilling start to the 2024 season, and the stats tell a story of missed opportunities for the Titans and clutch plays by the Bears.