Bears vs. Titans: Studs and duds from Bears' comeback win

The Chicago Bears (1-0) defeated the Tennessee Titans (0-1), on Sunday at Soldier Field, where Chicago mounted a second-half comeback to squeak out a close win.

The first half was a complete disaster, mostly for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and Chicago's new-look offense, which managed just 50 total yards in the first two quarters of play. Even the Bears defense, after an encouraging start, was outplayed and outcoached by Tennessee in the first half. But Chicago's offense was the most discouraging after an offseason of hype, and they trailed 17-3 at halftime.

But, as Bears fans are quite accustomed to, it was the defense and special teams that came up big in their second-half comeback. Chicago scored 24 unanswered points -- between the end of the second quarter and the second half -- including one touchdown each from special teams and the defense. Cairo Santos added three field goals on the afternoon.

We’re taking a look at the studs and duds from Chicago's comeback win vs. Tennessee:

Stud: DE Darrell Taylor

There were a number of notable defensive standouts, and newcomer Darrell Taylor was a big part of Chicago's comeback win. Taylor, acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks last month, totaled eight tackles, two tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks and two QB hits. He was present on some of the biggest defensive plays of the game, and he made a strong impression in the rotation off the edge opposite Montez Sweat.

Stud: LB T.J. Edwards

Linebacker T.J. Edwards was a force for the Bears last season, and he picked up right where he left off in Sunday's season opener. Edwards led Chicago with a game-high 15 tackles, including two tackles-for-loss, and he recovered a fumble on a strip-sack of Will Levis. But Edwards wasn't without his faults. He did have a couple of missed tackles in the game, but he continues to serve a key role in the success of this defense.

Stud: DT Andrew Billings

Nose tackle Andrew Billings doesn't always get the accolades given he does the dirty work in the trenches, but he had a monster game against the Titans. Billings totaled two tackles, including one tackle-for-loss, as well as two QB hits. He continues to play a key role in run defense, and he also was able to bring some interior pressure on Will Levis.

Stud: KR/PR DeAndre Carter

The Bears appear to have found their punt and kickoff returner in veteran DeAndre Carter, who showcased his playmaking ability in both regards against the Titans. Carter had five punt returns for 64 yards (12.8 average), including a long of 20 yards. After Velus Jones Jr. muffed an early kickoff, Carter took over those duties for the remainder of the game -- and he didn't disappoint. Carter had just one kickoff, but he returned it 67 yards to set up Chicago's offense in prime scoring range.

Studs: CBs Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson

The cornerback duo of Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson had a strong showing in the season opener, which included two clutch fourth-quarter interceptions to seal the game. Johnson had three tackles, including two tackles-for-loss, as well as two pass breakups. That included saving a touchdown against Titans receiver Calvin Ridley. Johnson also had the game-sealing interception. As for Stevenson, he totaled four tackles, two pass breakups and recorded an interception, which he returned 43 yards for a touchdown to put Chicago up by seven points with seven minutes remaining. The Bears certainly have something special in this Johnson-Stevenson duo.

Studs: K Cairo Santos, P Tory Taylor

For all intents and purposes, Cairo Santos was Chicago's offense, when gunners and defenders weren't scoring touchdowns. The Bears offense didn't score a single touchdown, but Santos went a perfect 3-for-3 on his field goals -- from 24 yards, 50 yards and 48 yards. Meanwhile, punter Tory Taylor proved to be a weapon for Chicago. He averaged 45 yards on six punts, including a long of 60 yards. Three of those punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.

Dud: QB Caleb Williams

This wasn't the rookie debut that Bears fans wanted for Caleb Williams, but it's also not something that will define his career. Williams, like most rookies do, had a rough start in his first NFL regular-season action. He completed 14-of-29 passes for 93 yards with no touchdowns and a 55.7 passer rating. To be fair, Williams wasn't helped out by his offensive line (more on that below) and there were some notable drops, including what would've been a touchdown to receiver Keenan Allen in the end zone. But Williams also looked nervous, his footwork wasn't pretty and he had to contend with a dominant Titans defense. Williams will only get better from here, but it wasn't the start everyone wanted, nor expected.

Dud: Bears offensive line

One of the reasons why Williams had such a rough first outing was the protection, or lack thereof, up front. Chicago's offensive line was outmatched, outplayed and downright manhandled by Tennessee's defensive line. It was an embarrassing display across the board, but center Coleman Shelton certainly was the standout dud of the group. Williams was sacked twice, but the offensive line struggled also in run blocking, as the run totaled just 84 yards on the afternoon. The Bears still have multiple questions to answer along the offensive line, especially as it relates to Williams being able to find success in his rookie season.

Dud: KR Velus Jones Jr.

No one expected Jones to make the roster after his struggles in the past, but he carved out a role for himself as a kickoff returner, and someone who could benefit from the new rules. Unfortunately, he muffed his first kickoff return in the first quarter, which he essentially kicked to the Titans to set Tennessee's offense up on Chicago's 30-yard line. While the Bears defense held them to only a field goal, Jones cannot make those mistakes. He was replaced immediately by DeAndre Carter, who handled both punt and kickoff duties for the duration of the game. It's hard to believe Carter will relinquish those roles heading into Week 2.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Titans: Studs and duds from Bears' comeback win