NFL Preseason Week 1 Game Recap: Chicago Bears 19, Kansas City Chiefs 14

Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) drops back to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

A strong second half brought the Chicago Bears back from a two-score deficit to win, 19-14, over the Kansas City Chiefs. Make no mistake, though, this was a pyrrhic preseason win for Chicago fans. The Bears' first-team offense failed to put any points on the board in three drives with Justin Fields on the field.

CHICAGO BEARS

Graphic via PFF's Nathan Jahnke

QUARTERBACK

  • Fields may not have been able to consistently move the ball, but he wasn’t without some spectacular plays. He put up two big-time throws on his 10 dropbacks.
  • Fields' problems with holding onto the ball as a rookie haven’t changed just yet. His average time to throw was a lofty 3.4 seconds.

RUNNING BACK

  • Three different Bears running backs garnered seven carries, with Trestan Ebner leading the way with 31 yards.
  • Bears starter David Montgomery didn’t suit up.

RECEIVERS

  • Darnell Mooney is still trying to prove he’s a true No. 1 receiver. His 26-yard go-ball over the top of Chiefs top corner L’Jarius Sneed was a thing of beauty.
  • Tajae Sharpe impressed in his Bears debut. On only 11 routes, he hauled in his two targets for 44 yards — including an impressive back-shoulder grab.

OFFENSIVE LINE

  • Larry Borom looked fairly clearly like the Bears' best offensive tackle on the day. On 18 pass-blocking snaps, he didn’t allow a single pressure.
  • Teven Jenkins has had a much-maligned training camp and was just average in his preseason debut. He allowed two pressures on 18 pass-blocking snaps.

DEFENSIVE LINE

  • Rookie Dominique Robinson registered the only sack for the Bears on the day, but it came unblocked and was his only pressure on 23 pass-rushing snaps.
  • No Bears player on the day tallied more than one pressure.

LINEBACKER

  • Jack Sanborn was arguably the Bears' best defender Saturday. He finished with a team-high four stops and an interception on 26 snaps.

SECONDARY

  • Jaquan Brisker looked as advertised. He was all over the football field on his 25 snaps. He laid a few big hits and allowed three catches on four targets for 23 yards.
  • BoPete Keyes was oft-tested but infrequently beaten Saturday. He was targeted seven times and allowed five catches for 30 yards, with only one of those resulting in a first down.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Graphic via PFF's Nathan Jahnke

QUARTERBACK

  • Mahomes looked in midseason form. He connected on 6-of-7 attempts for 60 yards and a score.
  • His average depth of target sans Tyreek Hill will be worth monitoring this season. His average target depth was 7.6 yards downfield in this contest.

RUNNING BACK

  • The Chiefs largely kept training camp star Isiah Pacheco under wraps. He saw only eight snaps and had two rushes for six yards.

RECEIVERS

  • Skyy Moore didn’t disappoint in his debut. He led the Chiefs with 21 routes and caught all three of his targets for 23 yards.
  • Justin Watson had the best day of any Chiefs wideout. He caught five passes on six targets for 45 yards.

OFFENSIVE LINE

  • It was a mixed bag for rookie Darian Kinnard. He allowed only two pressures on 22 pass-blocking snaps.
  • On 11 pass-blocking snaps, the Chiefs' first-team offensive line surrendered only two total pressures.

DEFENSIVE LINE

  • Have a day, George Karlaftis. The rookie racked up a game-high five pressures on only 13 pass-rushing snaps.
  • Tershawn Wharton looks like he’s going to take the next step into problem territory this season. He notched two pressures on 11 pass-rushing snaps.

LINEBACKER

  • Leo Chenal looks ready to contribute. The third-rounder led all players in the game with five defensive stops on 32 snaps.
  • We saw all of the Chiefs' linebackers on Saturday. Nick Bolton looked in midseason form with a stop in coverage on nine snaps.

SECONDARY

  • Trent McDuffie saw only nine coverage snaps with the first-team defense. He wasn’t targeted once on the day.
  • Newly acquired safety Justin Reid not only looked the part in coverage, as his lone target went for two yards, but he also looked the part as a kicker (!). Reid was given an extra point attempt and nailed it between the uprights.
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