Bears vs. Titans Preseason Week 3: Complete game preview

The Chicago Bears will take on the Tennessee Titans in the third week of the NFL preseason. Here is everything you need to know about this game.

Coming off their first win of the preseason, the Chicago Bears will look to make it two in a row in the biggest game of the preseason. In this one, the Bears take on the Tennessee Titans, who are another playoff-caliber team with a strong defense. Starters are expected to play into the second half, in a game commonly referred to as the “dress rehearsal”.

Despite a lackluster preseason, Mike Glennon will indeed be the starting quarterback for the third week in a row. However, rookie Mitch Trubisky will start the second half, giving him his first real look with, and probably against, first-team players.

There is plenty to watch on both sides of the field. The Titans have an elite defense that will need to have a repeat performance of last season in order to meet playoff expectations. The Bears have major question marks on offense, making this a crucial game for players in need of something to prove.

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All questions aside, this game should prove to be a competitive one. Both teams are relatively young on offense, therefore the game should feature a lot of action coming from the young players. As seen in last week’s game, the production of young players on offense will be the key to the Bears success.

What to watch for the Bears

Position battles have arguably been the story of the preseason for Chicago and this will certainly be a defining game in that regard. The most important aspect of the game will be the performance of the quarterbacks.

Glennon needs to bounce back from rough showings in the first two weeks, while Trubisky needs to prove that he can perform at a high level against first team defenders. Glennon is still the starter, and unless he completely implodes, it should remain that way.

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Just like last week, receiving is also one of the biggest things to watch. Kevin White‘s struggles continued last week, as was the same for most of the Bears receiving corps. Kendall Wright caught a touchdown in the win last week and will likely be the Bears’ starting slot receiver to start the season. The competition for the final spot between undrafted rookie Tanner Gentry and Josh Bellamy will continue, with a decision likely coming after next week’s finale.

Finally, the consistency of the defensive front is the final thing to watch. The Bears front seven won them the game last week and will need to prove that last weeks performance was no fluke with another impressing showing this week. Stifling the Titans impressive group of backs will be the defining aspect of the game yet again for the Bears.

What to watch for the Titans

As touched on previously, the Titans have an impressive group of running backs. While Demarco Murray is the starter, former Heisman winner Derrick Henry will look to cement his legitimacy on offense with yet other big game. Following a generally uneventful rookie campaign, Henry will look to show that he can take on a bigger workload in his sophomore season.

With the exception of tight end Delanie Walker, the Titans had a thin receiving corps last season. The Titans selected Western Michigan’s Corey Davis with the fifth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and Davis is expected to take on a large load of targets. The impact made by Davis could be a defining part of the Titans’ season.

Next: Five Bears' players to watch vs. Titans

The Titans as a whole don’t feature too much uncertainty. Franchise quarterback Marcus Mariota will look to rebound from a season ending ACL tear last season, behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. If everybody can stay healthy on both ends, the Titans could make a run deep into the playoffs.

All in all, this should be an interesting game between two young teams. The Bears are in a good position to get another long look at some key players both for 2017 and beyond. Plus, they get to do it against an obvious 2017 postseason contender.