Opening play provides instant momentum
The Bears opened their preseason finale at Nissan Stadium with a play that decided the narrative early: Tyson Bagent connected on a 97-yard touchdown pass on Chicago’s first offensive snap, and the lead held for the remainder of the 24-15 victory over the Titans.
The 97-yard score came when rookie Zavion Thomas executed a double move on the outside, caught the pass in stride and turned it into a game-changing score on his first ever offensive snap in a game for the Bears. The big play gave Chicago an immediate edge and set the tone for an evening in which the offense did its job on key opportunities.
Bagent finished the night with a 156.9 passer rating, a tidy statistical rounding of the efficient start he supplied during his time on the field.
Run game balance and defensive stinginess
Roschon Johnson paced the ground attack, leading all rushers with 12 carries for 41 yards. That work on the ground helped the Bears maintain possession and protect a lead built by the opening touchdown.
The defense also played a prominent role: the Bears didn’t give up a touchdown until there was less than four minutes remaining. That late score did not erase the cushion the Bears had established early.
Chicago’s opening-play touchdown was notable not only for its length but for the execution around it. The play required a critical block on a safety; had that block not been picked up, the sequence could have resulted in a safety instead of the highlight. Instead, the collective execution turned the play into a 97-yard highlight.
Rookie emergence and what it means for the preseason
Zavion Thomas’ long touchdown is the kind of instant-impact moment that stands out in a preseason finale. For a player making his first offensive snap in a game for the Bears, the score was both efficient and explosive—two traits often prioritized when evaluating young talent in limited reps.
For the team, the result was straightforward: a 24-15 win against the Titans, achieved through a combination of a quick-strike passing play, steady rushing contributions and a defense that largely held its ground until late.
In a game where several regulars sat, the opening-play fireworks and the supporting phases—rushing and defense—provided a clear snapshot of how the Bears handled a preseason finale and which individual performances will attract attention as the roster picture continues to sharpen.
