Bears vs. Titans: Going behind enemy lines to preview Week 1

The Chicago Bears (0-0) will host the Tennessee Titans (0-0) on Sunday, where Chicago is looking to kick off the Caleb Williams era with a victory.

The Bears are coming off a 7-10 season, where general manager Ryan Poles had another impactful offseason. The Bears drafted Williams and receiver Rome Odunze in the top 10, while also adding receiver Keenan Allen, safety Kevin Byard, running back D'Andre Swift and new coordinators in Shane Waldron and Eric Washington. On paper, this is a team that could certainly contend for a playoff spot in 2024, especially after falling just short last season.

Before the game, we caught up with managing editor Dan Benton of Titans Wire to get the scoop on the Bears’ Week 1 opponent.

Here are five questions with Titans Wire:

1. What are realistic expectations for the Titans in 2024?

Dan Benton: It's difficult to say because there is so much that's new. Initial expectations were typical of that of a rebuilding team but throughout the summer, there were flashes that provided optimism that hadn't really been there early on. The offensive line, in particular, appears significantly improved from a season ago and even if they end up mid-pack this year, that would provide a great boost to the Titans offensively. But even with some of the positives, the Titans are far off from being a contending team. That said, some of those doom and gloom predictions are likely to look silly come January because this team, if they can stay healthy, are entirely capable of seven or eight wins. They won't be a doormat or a weekly pushover.

2. Tennessee brought in new head coach Brian Callahan to help get the most out of Will Levis. What are you expecting from Levis in Year 2?

Benton: Changing head coaches, offensive coordinators and offensive systems for a second-year quarterback is never necessarily a good thing. It hits the reset button entirely too early but Will Levis has appeared to handle it like a pro. Still, it will be a bit of an uphill climb as he adjusts to Nick Holz's way of doing things, especially since there will be more pressure on the passing game to perform in 2024. But so long as Levis is protected, we should see a significant step forward in his development. It's likely to be a little rough early on before evening out as he becomes more comfortable within the system.

3. How will the loss of Derrick Henry, who departed in free agency, impact this Titans offense?

Benton: Brian Callahan is adamant that he still wants to control the game on the ground but will be less reliant on his backs to carry the load. There will be a greater emphasis on downfield passing this season and instead of Derrick Henry, the skill position players will be relied upon to create big plays. And while losing a great like Derrick Henry will certainly hurt, it's not like the Titans are in bad hands with with Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, especially if Pollard can perform at the level he did in 2022.

4. Tennessee has plenty of talent on defense, including Jeffery Simmons. Coupled with some big new additions, how good can this defense be?

Benton: Knowing that the offense is going to take some time to get their feet under them, the Titans will very much rely on the defense to keep them in games, especially early in the season. They addressed nearly every single defensive position, adding firepower at cornerback, safety and linebacker in particular. Dennard Wilson wants his group to be extremely aggressive and physical, and the corners will play a significant amount of man coverage with an emphasis on creating turnovers. Tennessee had a league-worst six interceptions a season ago and Wilson knows they'll need to improve that number to help give their offense a chance. Given what they added this offseason (L'Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie, Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams, Ernest Jones) coupled with what they already had, this defense, on paper, should finish in the top half of the league at worst.

5. Who wins and why?

Benton: There's been a lot of hype around the Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams this offseason but the real bullets will start to fly on Sunday. I expect an adjustment curve for both teams and a Titans defense that puts significant pressure on Chicago's O-line. But in the end, I think the Bears do just enough to eke out a home win to start the season. Bears 21, Titans 20

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Titans: Going behind enemy lines to preview Week 1