Week 1: Bears vs Texans

Game planning and general playcalling. What are the coaches trying to do? What direction is the team going?  Are the players able to perform as required? Will the oline hold up or breakdown? Will the secondary  (whoever the secondary is) function properly or look like swiss cheese? Will we have dumb penalties or are we well coached?

Obviously we're all interested in how the rooks look, but also the injured guys .. kyle long look okay or no?

Special teams... will they be decent, average, or ahem, special. I don't expect good, that would be a surprise.

The  new kicker.

Cutler. Always cutler.

Basically pretty much what I would look for in any game bUT add in new coaches aND players.

Keys to the game?

To me it will be up to Loggains, Cutler, and that OL to generate some offense.  If they misfire badly all game long like they have in some of the preseason games it's gonna be a very long afternoon for the defense.  Loggains and Cutler need to find out what works and what doesn't quickly and stick with it.  Whoever wins the TOP battle in this one should come out on top

On defense can the Bears mount enough of a pass rush to keep Osweiler in check and prevent him from exploiting a still somewhat shaky secondary?  It won't make much difference if it's all three starting CBs back there or their subs if Osweiler gets all day to throw he's gonna run up lots of yardage on us. The defense has to keep the pressure on his all game long.

If we can actually generate some offense and some points it should be a close game but if not I expect us to get blown out like we did against KC and Denver.

Is it cause he has short arms? Sorry...couldn't help myself! LOL

BEARS IN-FOE: OFFSEASON INVESTMENTS ON O SUPPORT TEXANS' D

By Chris Boden September 05, 2016 4:20 PM
The defense was fine. The offense had key holes to plug.

So with that, Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith rolled up his sleeves and went to work this offseason after an embarrassing 30-0 home playoff loss that included four interceptions from now-Bears backup Brian Hoyer. There were plenty of other issues at hand, but more than an offensive head coach like Bill O'Brien could fix with the personnel he had, even if they'd rallied from a 2-5 start to win the AFC South with a 9-7 record.

Texans offense

Due to Arian Foster missing the equivalent of two of the previous four seasons with injuries (after rushing for at least 1,200 yards four of the previous five), the only elite weapon the Texans had on that side of the ball was wideout DeAndre Hopkins, whom some argued was the NFL's most improved player in 2015 (111/1,521/11).

So Smith and O'Brien struck quickly and blew any competition for Brock Osweiler out of the water by signing the Broncos free agent quarterback to a four-year, $72 million contract ($37 million guaranteed). This despite the fact the only seven starts of his NFL career came last season, capably filling in for the injured Peyton Manning. He went 5-2, throwing 10 touchdowns with six interceptions. The 6-foot-8 25-year-old has the physical tools, is sturdy in and moves well out of the pocket, but there's that experience factor.

Nevertheless, he looked sharp during the Texans' 4-0 preseason, especially in the third exhibition against Arizona, going 11-of-13 for 143 yards and a touchdown. O'Brien's been thrilled with how he's absorbed command of the playbook. He's backed up by Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden.

Then Smith forked over $23 million over three years for underrated (and underused) Dolphins free agent running back Lamar Miller, who tore up the Texans for 185 yards in Week 7 last year. He's explosive, multi-dimensional, and despite a Miami line in flux, averaged 4.6 yards during his career with the Fins, even though he averaged just a dozen carries a game. Houston's ground game averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last season, and brings back backup Alfred Blue, who's more suited for short-yardage situations, and adds Tyler Ervin. The fast, quick-twitch fourth-round pick out of San Jose State was very impressive throughout training camp.

Now for the additions to the cast around Hopkins. He alone will be a tough test for whomever's defending him, with his moves, hands, body control, and ability to win jump balls despite not being among the trend of bigger wideouts so prevalent these days. Tracy Porter told reporters Monday he'll play Week 1, so it very well could be on him.

But in addition to the signings of Osweiler and Miller, Houston selected for offense with its first four draft picks. That included first-round burner Will Fuller from Notre Dame and third-rounder Braxton Miller - the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year at quarterback. Miller's raw in his second year at his new position but continues flashing what he did at the Senior Bowl: shiftiness, quickness, elusiveness.

Fuller got behind the Cardinals' impressive defensive backfield several times, but also continued showing his hands need work (10 drops at Notre Dame last season). Throw in 2015 third-round pick Jaelen Strong, who's expected to jump from just 14 receptions in his rookie campaign, and it's a solid, impressive group for Osweiler to grow with, so much so that steady veteran Cecil Shorts III was let go over the weekend. At tight end, former third-rounder C.J. Fiedorowicz and Ryan Griffin have size and can block, but shown inconsistent hands.

As for the the guys up front, the Bears might be able to take advantage off the edge, with three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown not yet ready to return from the torn quad he suffered in last year's regular season finale. Chris Clark was signed from the Broncos as insurance. And while right tackle Derek Newton returned to practice Monday (hamstring), Kendall Lamm is on standby. Second-round pick Nick Martin, who followed in big brother Zack's footsteps at Notre Dame, was going to start immediately at center before suffering a high ankle sprain a couple of weeks ago, meaning Greg Mancz now slides in. After guard Brandon Brooks joined center Ben Jones in departing via free agency, the Texans signed former King High School and Illinois guard Jeff Allen away from Kansas City. 2014 second-rounder Xavier Su'a-Filo is the left guard.

Texans defense

J.J. Watt is back after recent surgery on his back. So much for the Injury Gods giving the Bears a break. Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor is the only other player in NFL history to be named Defensive Player of the Year three times. He's the nightmare Dowell Loggains will wake up to every night this week, with the combination of his freak athleticism, versatility, and motor that busts up gameplans. If you were hoping the fact he might not totally be in game shape might help the Bears, consider this: He had 17.5 sacks, 29 TFL's and 50 quarterback hits last season while playing at varying times with a broken hand, a groin tear, and a herniated disc.

But what makes Watt even greater are the other assets he has around him in Romeo Crennel's defense. And that was before Jadaveon Clowney's impressive preseason following two injury-plagued campaigns for the 2014 top overall pick. Vince Wilfork can still clog entering his 14th season, even if he might be slowing down a bit.

Then there's a five-deep linebacking corps in the 3-4. Besides Clowney, former Illini Whitney Mercilus racked up a dozen sacks last year, then added three more in the playoff loss to the Chiefs. Veteran Brian Cushing played an entire season for the first time in five years and led the team with 110 tackles. Bernardrick McKinney continues to elevate after a slow start to the second-round pick's rookie season. And if you saw John Simon's athletic pick-six against Carson Palmer and the Cardinals a couple of weeks ago, the strong-side force showed another aspect of his game after collecting five sacks a year ago.

The Texans have three cornerbacks whom they've selected in the first-round. 32-year-old Jonathan Joseph recovered from a slow start last year and can still run. Kareem Jackson (2010) and Kevin Johnson (2015) battled it out on the other side last year. The latter had to deal with foot and wrist surgeries, but is an impressive hitter and open-field tackler who's been prone to bite on fakes and double-moves. Free safety Andre Hal is a converted corner who had four interceptions a year ago while Quentin Demps is arguably coming off the best of his eight pro seasons. A.J. Bouye was competing for nickel back.

Texans special teams

Houston had an awful return game last season and it's unlikely second-year wideout Keith Mumphrey will be called upon for those duties. The main reason is the spark that rookie Ervin showed in the preseason. Fellow rookie Miller has also been given a chance.

Kicker Nick Novak was 18-for-18 last year inside the 50, though new Coordinator Larry Izzo is hoping to see more touchbacks from him. 40-year-old Shane Lechler returns for his 17th NFL season after grossing 47.3 yards a punt last season (38.8 net).