The bright lights of Sunday Night Football shone a glaring spotlight on the Chicago Bears’ offensive problems, as they suffered a loss to the Houston Texans in Week 2. After similar struggles in their season opener, the Bears’ offensive line was once again exposed on national television.
The issues that plagued the Bears in Week 1—ineffective run blocking, pre-snap penalties, and difficulty handling defensive stunts—resurfaced in Week 2, dooming their offense from start to finish.
Another 3rd down sack for the @HoustonTexans!
📺: #CHIvsHOU on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/zqPcmLYhKP— NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2024
The frustrating part is that no single player is solely responsible. Every member of the offensive line made critical mistakes at some point during the game, and those errors often came in key moments. For instance, four of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ seven sacks occurred on third downs—situations where the Bears desperately needed protection. To make matters worse, the offensive line committed three penalties on third downs, stalling drives. The Texans recorded 36 pressures and 11 quarterback hits, wreaking havoc on the Bears’ passing attack.
— ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ (@Someone20241575) September 16, 2024
“It’s an everybody thing,” head coach Matt Eberflus admitted post-game. “We’ve got to do a great job with the O-line, tight ends, backs, [Williams] needs to have rhythm and timing on his passes. It’s everybody, so we’ve got to clean that up.”
The problems weren’t limited to pass protection. The Bears’ run game was equally ineffective, as D’Andre Swift averaged just 1.3 yards per carry, while Williams led the team in rushing by scrambling away from pressure. Several failed blocking assignments contributed to the lack of running lanes. On multiple occasions, offensive linemen like Nate Davis, Teven Jenkins, and Coleman Shelton whiffed on their assignments, allowing defenders to crash into the backfield before the play could even develop.
Even on the Bears’ first touchdown of the season, the offensive line’s miscues were evident. Davis was supposed to be the lead blocker for Khalil Herbert, but a missed assignment led to Shelton getting pushed back into Davis, who tripped before he could even reach his blocking assignment. Herbert managed to score despite the breakdown, but it highlighted the unit’s ongoing struggles.
The Bears’ offensive line issues are further compounded by the loss of Ryan Bates, who is on injured reserve until Week 6. With Bates out, the team’s backup plans at center and right guard are in disarray. Eberflus mentioned during the week that rotating Matt Pryor at right guard wasn’t being considered, and the Bears’ only other center option is Doug Kramer Jr., who played just two offensive snaps last season.
🗣️ JUICEEEEEEEE
📺: #CHIvsHOU on NBC pic.twitter.com/YAY1lcnmPe
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 16, 2024
For an offensive line featuring multiple veterans, these ongoing mistakes are inexcusable. Worse yet, they are hampering Caleb Williams’ development at the most critical time of his young career. If the Bears don’t address these lingering problems soon, it could have long-term consequences for their offense and Williams’ growth as an NFL quarterback.
