By: Marcus McCallum
The Chicago Bears closed the 2026 preseason in dominating fashion Saturday night, beating the Tennessee Titans 24-15 in Nashville. Although both teams rested most of their projected starters, Chicago’s performance offered plenty of encouragement heading into the regular season, particularly from 2nd string quarterback Tyson Bagent and rookie wide receiver Zavion Thomas.
The game could hardly have started better for Chicago. On the Bears’ first offensive snap, Bagent found Thomas deep down the right side for a spectacular 97-yard touchdown. Thomas, a third-round pick making his preseason debut, separated from the defender and turned the play into an explosive statement. He ultimately finished with five catches for 140 yards and a touchdown, while also making an impact as a returner. That immediate strike established the tone. Tennessee answered with a methodical 13-play drive that ended in a Joey Slye field goal, but the Titans struggled to generate touchdowns consistently. Will Levis, who started because Tennessee rested its top quarterbacks, completed 14 of 22 passes for 143 yards and guided three scoring drives, but all three ended with field goals.
Chicago’s offense, meanwhile, showed impressive efficiency. Bagent was nearly flawless, completing 16 of 17 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. His second touchdown came on a short connection with Maurice Alexander during a lengthy 16-play drive. That possession was particularly encouraging because it demonstrated that the Bears could sustain offense rather than relying exclusively on Thomas’ enormous opening-play touchdown. The Bears’ rushing attack also gradually wore down Tennessee. Roschon Johnson carried 15 times for 52 yards and scored a three-yard touchdown in the third quarter, giving Chicago a 21-9 advantage. Cairo Santos added a field goal later in the quarter, extending the margin to 24-9 and effectively putting the game out of reach.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the victory was Chicago’s overall control. The Bears accumulated 398 yards compared with Tennessee’s 259 and held the ball for nearly 36 minutes. They also ran 65 offensive plays to the Titans’ 50. Those numbers reflect an offense that consistently moved the chains and kept Tennessee’s defense on the field. Chicago converted four of five fourth-down attempts and went 40 percent on third down. The Bears 10 penalties for 71 yards represented one of the clear areas for improvement.
Tennessee managed a late touchdown from D’Ernest Johnson, but by then Chicago had the game firmly under control. Hendon Hooker finished at quarterback and led the Titans’ only touchdown drive of the night. The Titans’ decision to rest most of their starters means the result should not be overinterpreted, but Chicago nevertheless accomplished what a preseason finale is supposed to accomplish: young players made cases for roster spots while the coaching staff gained useful information before finalizing the team.
For the Bears, Thomas was unquestionably the headline performer. His 97-yard touchdown, 140 receiving yards and return-game contributions provided a tantalizing glimpse of the speed he can bring to Chicago’s offense and special teams. Bagent was equally important from an evaluation standpoint, delivering the kind of mistake-free performance that strengthens his position as a reliable backup.
The bigger takeaway is that Chicago finished the preseason with momentum. The Bears went 2-1, and the finale showcased depth, explosive playmaking and offensive consistency. The victory is hardly proof of what Chicago will accomplish in the regular season. But as a final audition before the games count, it was about as positive as the Bears could have hoped for. FoxSports 1410 WRMN Da Bears