Titans' HC Brian Callahan: 'We've got our hands full' with Chicago Bears

NASHVILLE - Going into Solider Field to play the Chicago Bears in Week 1 will be no walk in the park for the Tennessee Titans. Titans head coach Brian Callahan knows that.

Callahan spoke to the media on Monday afternoon to preview the upcoming week of practice and Sunday's season opener against the Bears.

It will be the NFL debut of number one overall pick Caleb Williams. The rookie quarterback has already shown in preseason games his ability to improvise and make off-schedule plays. But beyond Williams, Chicago's roster is going to challenge the Titans all over the field.

"Obviously, [the Bears have] got a lot of really exciting players there. I'm a huge fan of Caleb Williams and what he did at USC. I watched him over the years. A really dynamic player. Really fun as a fan of quarterbacks to watch him play," said Callahan. "But then they've added a bunch of weapons. Keenan Allen's been doing this for a long time. He's still able to get open at a relatively high rate these days, and obviously with D.J. Moore and drafting Rome Odunze, they've got some real players on offense and the ability to score a lot of points. They've got good backs. They've got a good tight end. I mean, it's a much-improved football team."

DJ Moore and Keenan Allen were two of 12 wide receivers to surpass 1,200 receiving yards in 2023. Now, they're teammates in Chicago and joined by a Top 10 draft selection in rookie Rome Odunze. Cole Kmet also finished in the Top 10 in receiving yards among tight ends.

But Chicago brings a lot more to the table than just weapons and a quarterback with upside. After acquiring outside linebacker Montez Sweat in a mid-season trade last year, the Bears allowed just 17.9 points per game in the second half of the season. Chicago also led the NFL in interceptions and added veterans Kevin Byard and Jonathan Owens to their secondary.

"We've got our hands full," Callahan said to Titans media when looking at Chicago's defensive front. "On defense, just what they did last year to close the season out was incredibly impressive. I think they're going to be a really good football team this year. I think we've got our work cut out for us. It's going to be a tough test on the road. We're going to need everybody and everything to muster up enough to go give these guys a game. They're really good, and I'm excited to go play them."

I find the similarities between the Titans and Bears really interesting. Not necessarily in roster construction or anything on the field, but as anticipation for Week 1 builds, I can't help but notice how similar the narrative is surrounding each team.

For Bears fans, Caleb Williams is supposed to be the answer to a long history of failed quarterbacks in the Windy City. The front office was active in the offseason and with all the new personnel/coaching changes, it's time for the Bears to get back in the mix in the competitive NFC North. The talent is there and most of the holes have been filled...but none of it is proven yet. How will the new offense with a surplus of weapons and a new playcaller (Shane Waldron) look? Is Williams the real deal?

Similarly, things in Tennessee are all about how well this group can gel together after so much offseason change. There's a new head coach and an entirely new coaching staff. There are new weapons in Tony Pollard, Tyler Boyd, and Calvin Ridley. There's a defense that might feature up to eight (8) new starters in 2024. And while Titans fans are elated for the season to begin and optimistic about the new era, many are going to have to see it to believe it.

It's two confident fanbases. It's two teams looking to make big improvements from less than stellar 2023 campaigns. Both have a young QB and went undefeated in the preseason...and only one of them will get to start 1-0 in the games that count.

Titans and Bears will kickoff at Noon on Sunday, September 8th.

Related: Winning history backs Brian Callahan's side as Titans head into season opener against Caleb Williams' Bears