Chicago Bears at Houston Texans: Everything you need to know about the Week 2 game before tonight’s kickoff

The 1-0 Chicago Bears will play the 1-0 Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in a Week 2 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (7:20 p.m., NBC).

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5 things to watch — plus our Week 2 predictions

Football remains an 11-on-11 battle. But it feels like a pretty intriguing 3-on-3 clash will unfold between the Texans’ top three receivers — Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell — and the Bears’ top three cornerbacks — Jaylon Johnson , Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon.

Stevenson was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week thanks to his 43-yard game-winning interception return for a touchdown in Week 1. But Johnson had a more impressive game, collecting an interception of his own while also recording two passes defensed and two tackles for a loss and playing a big role in limiting the Titans receiving trio of Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd to a combined 76 receiving yards on seven catches. Read more here .

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‘On to the next week. That’s what drives us.’

In many ways, when coach Matt Eberflus picked Waldron to replace Luke Getsy last winter, he staked the development of QB Caleb Williams – if not his own coaching future – on Waldron and his ability to orchestrate an offense to suit the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner.

It’s at once a pressurized situation and a potential dream opportunity for a coach. And one in which the noise is ramping up. Read more here .

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Next test for Bears rookie QB

Coming off a clunky performance in his NFL debut, Caleb Williams at least had football’s greatest pain reliever at his disposal: a victory. Despite totaling only 148 yards of offense and failing to score an offensive touchdown, the Bears somehow left Soldier Field with a win and welcomed the good vibes that came with it.

Next up is Sunday’s prime-time clash with the Texans, a test the Bears likely won’t pass if they don’t show marked offensive improvement. Williams will have to be sharper to enliven a passing attack that averaged a meager 2.1 yards per play in Week 1. Read more here .

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About Week 1 …

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams celebrates while coming off the field after a victory over the Titans at Soldier Field on Sept. 8, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

The much-hyped debut of No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams will be remembered more for a defensive surge in the second half, a big pick-me-up from special teams and mistakes the rookie quarterback avoided as the Bears rallied from a 17-point deficit to win their opener for the first time since 2020 in Detroit.

The difference was that young Titans quarterback Will Levis, a second-round draft pick in 2023, made catastrophic mistakes in the second half. The Bears forced him into some of those miscues and then pounced, as the defense picked up an offense whose effort would not be good enough to beat many teams. Read Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts .

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