The cliche of you can never learn anything until the real work begins. You can kind of resemble that to the Chicago Bears start to the 2024 NFL season.

After a 34-21 preseason finale win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bears finish with a 4-0 record and now turn to the regular season premier September 8th vs. the Tennessee Titans.

Caleb Williams finishes his first preseason 10 of 20 for 170 yards and 2 rushes for 20 plus a 7 yard rushing TD. There were some rookie moments that he no doubt would face, but there was that splash of excellence with a 42-yard DOT to Rome Odunze that really symbolized Williams’ otherworldly potential and why he was selected at #1.

Bears planned to get Williams at least 45-50 snaps this preseason. He came up a little short with 42 snaps, but the Bears believe Williams is on the right track for Week 1 and beyond.

But nothing can match the real thing. Sure, the game experience and to build some chemistry sure does help in the limited reps but nothing can resemble the all out 60 minute when nothing matters but wins and losses. The pressure will mount, the expectations will heighten.

Now it is all on Williams to deliver on those expectations with the whole heart of Chicago rallying behind him.

By Zach Kendall

Photo courtesy of AP