Bears vs texans Necessities: Recapping Chicago’s Week 2 win vs. Texans
The Houston Texans have kicked off the season with a 2-0 start, a milestone they haven’t achieved in eight years. Their first win came in a close contest against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, ending 29-27. Week 2 saw them grind out a 19-13 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football. Though not the cleanest performance, the Texans showed an improved defensive effort compared to Week 1.
In their win over Chicago, the Texans’ defense, led by linebacker Henry To’oto’o, was the standout. The Texans recorded seven sacks in total, with contributions from six different players. Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. each posted 1.5 sacks, while Henry To’oto’o, Azeez Al-Shaair, Mario Edwards Jr., and Derek Barnett chipped in with one sack each.
Studs:
LB Tremaine Edmunds (Bears):
The Bears’ defense deserves credit for keeping the game close and limiting the Texans’ offense to just 19 points. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds led the charge, racking up a team-high 11 tackles, including one for a loss. He also added a sack and a quarterback hit, with his sack halting a Texans drive and giving the Bears some much-needed momentum.
S Kevin Byard (Bears):
Safety Kevin Byard was another bright spot in the Bears’ defense, matching Edmunds with 11 tackles, including one for a loss. Byard also recovered a fumble near the goal line, which stopped a Houston scoring drive.
K Cairo Santos & P Tory Taylor (Bears):
Kicker Cairo Santos outscored the Bears’ offense once again, hitting field goals from 53 and 54 yards and converting an extra point. Rookie punter Tory Taylor was another key player, punting six times for 248 yards, with an average of 47.3 yards per punt. Two of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.
Duds:
Bears Offensive Line:
The Bears’ offensive line has been a major weakness through the first two games, and it showed again against the Texans. Quarterback Caleb Williams faced relentless pressure from Houston’s defense and was sacked seven times. With 15 games left to play, Chicago needs to figure out how to protect their quarterback, or Williams may not make it through the season unscathed.
OC Shane Waldron (Bears):
Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron struggled to put together an effective game plan. His failure to consistently use key players like tight end Cole Kmet and running back Khalil Herbert hurt the Bears’ offense. Waldron also deviated from quick-passing plays that had been working earlier in the game, raising questions about whether he’s the right fit for the role.
QB Caleb Williams (Bears):
While Caleb Williams showed promise with a solid first half, completing 12-of-15 passes for 91 yards, the second half was a different story. Williams completed just 11-of-22 passes for 83 yards and threw two interceptions on consecutive drives. While there are encouraging signs for the young quarterback, his inconsistency is a concern, especially with the poor protection from his offensive line. He’ll need to improve as the season progresses, but so will the team around him.
