Bears vs. Chiefs: Everything we know about Chicago's Week 3 preseason win

The Chicago Bears defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 34-21, on Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium. This win over the two-time defending Super Bowl champions brought the Bears to 4-0 in the preseason, which was the first time they've been 4-0 in the preseason since 1994.

Say what you will about it being the preseason. The Bears played well in every game, which speaks to the talent on the roster -- both the starters and the reserves, who shined in Thursday night's win.

The starters didn't go for either team in this one, so it wasn't the Patrick Mahomes vs. Caleb Williams show that many were hoping for. But the game did provide one last look at the roster bubble players looking to earn a roster spot with roster cutdown day looming this Tuesday.

Now that this game (and the preseason) is over, it is time for the Bears to make some very tough decisions. We break down the game and what it may mean going forward:

Final Score: Bears 34, Chiefs 21

Keys To The Game

Depth came into play once again: The Bears have shown some depth throughout the preseason. They have beaten teams down no matter who was in the game. Everyone in all areas of the game (offense, defense, special teams) came to do their job in this one. There were players all over the field making impact plays that wouldn't even be mentioned as stars of the game. Guys like receiver Nsimba Webster, tight end Tommy Sweeney, defensive end Dashaun Mallory, and defensive end Daniel Hardy all gave their best effort. The depth will make for some intriguing roster decisions for GM Ryan Poles next week.

The Bears have a backup QB they can trust: Chicago is relying heavily on Caleb Williams to deliver them to the promised land. He's a big part of their present and future, and they need him to be on the field more often than not if they are going to win. However, if backup Tyson Bagent needs to play, for whatever reason, they are going to be in a good position. Bagent had a strong close to his preseason, completing 3-of-6 passes for 57 yards, as well as a seven-yard rushing touchdown, where his athleticism was on full display.

4-0 is something to be proud of: There will be people who tear down the fact that the Bears went 4-0 in the preseason, as if it doesn't matter. Well, it ultimately won't matter if they have this dreadful regular season. However, it set off what may be a winning culture within the organization. People showed up to camp and did what they could to always have a winning attitude. It showed on the field in every game. Even in this final game against the Chiefs, they could have mailed it in knowing that cuts and the regular season were coming. Instead, they played well as if they had something to prove. Chicago does have something to prove because they've been so bad for so long. Now, they can go into Week 1 with some pride and belief that they can find success.

It Was Over When...

Quarterback Austin Reed hit Tommy Sweeney for a six-yard touchdown, which gave Chicago a 27-7 lead. Typically, being up by 20 points in the third quarter spells a win. But anything can happen, as we saw Kansas City score 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. But, luckily, the game had been put out of reach before that point, and it was too little too late for the Chiefs.

3 Stars of the Game

*** WR Tyler Scott: There are a lot of offensive players on the team that could have been this third star of the game, but Scott deserves the nod. He had six receptions for 99 yards, where he saw significant playing time. He led the team in both categories and was a big part of the team scoring so many points. He didn't find his way into the endzone, but he is the reason they put a lot of points on the board during certain drives.

** CB Reddy Steward: The undrafted rookie is trying to make the team, and he made a great case for himself in the final preseason game. He's been great throughout camp and the preseason, but this game was his best effort yet. He totaled two tackles but his two interceptions stole the show, with both coming in key situations. His second pick was returned for 48 yards, and it played a big part in giving Chicago a big lead. Steward was a ball hawk in college, and he is doing a great job of bringing that greatness to the NFL.

* WR Velus Jones Jr.: The former third-round pick never really became a receiver that the Bears could use to his full potential. For whatever reason, it never clicked with him the way it does with some other players who get drafted that early. Jones entered this camp just trying to make the team, based on how his first few years have gone. And the biggest help might've been the decision for the coaching staff to try him out at running back, which has been paying off. Jones had 13 carries for 111 yards (8.5 average) and one touchdown, while adding two receptions for 11 yards. Preseason or not, it was his best game as a pro. After a night like this, it would certainly be hard to cut him. He stood out as much as any other player on the team. Running, receiving, or special teams, he may deserve another chance in 2024.

What's Next?

The preseason has officially wrapped, which means it's time for roster cutdown day on Tuesday, Aug. 27. That precedes Week 1, where the Bears will host the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field on Sept. 8. Before that, you can catch the fourth episode of “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears” on Tuesday on HBO and streaming on Max. This episode should be a great way to cap off the exhibition season.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Chiefs: Everything we know about Chicago's preseason win