LIVE BLOG: Follow the Titans' Preseason Opener With Bears in Real Time on Saturday
CHICAGO — It's a beautiful sunny day in Chicago as the Tennessee Titans open their 2023 campaign with a preseason football games on Saturday against the Bears.
It's a comfortable 77 degrees here at Soldier Field in the hour before the Noon CT kickoff. And after three weeks of training camp, the Titans are ready to hit someone else.
Welcome to our live blog, where we'll keep you updated all day long in real time straight from the press box at Solider Field. We're your eyes and ears onsite, so bookmark this story and keep refreshing. All the latest news is at the top.
Let's go!
FINAL — The Titans drop their preseason opener 23-17 to the Chicago Bears. Did some nice things, but still a lot to work on. Plenty of stories to come on AllTitans.com.
3:07 p.m. — The Titans get one last chance with 31 seconds to go. Take over on the Chicago 43. Will Levis in at quarterback for the Titans. Levis completes first pass but just misses Gavin Holmes on a crossing route, and then throws an interception on third down when his hand gets hit on the release.
2:55 p.m. CT — Malik Willis gets the call at quarterback for the final drive of the game. He's made some nice throws and the Titans are in the red zone at the two-minute warning. It's first-and-10 from the Bears' 12-yard line. A false start penalty on second-and-2 really hurt with Xavier Newman getting whistled. But the Titans in long-yardage situation and they come up short. Bears can run out most of the clock now.
2:37 p.m. CT — The Bears add another field goal to stretch the lead to 23-17 with 9:34 to go in the game. Time for the Titans offense to get something going.
2:23 p.m. CT — We've reached the end of the third quarter and the Titans are moving. When we return to start the fourth, they'll be attempting a field goal to tie the game. Trey Wolff misses from 48 yards, sailing it wide right.
2:15 p.m. CT — The Bears have had back-to-back nice drives, but the Titans defense stiffened in the red zone both times and held them to chip-shot field goals. The Bears lead 20-17 with 3:56 to go.
1:35 p.m. CT — Nice drive to end the half for the Titans, and it end with a 41-yard Caleb Shaduk field goal to give the Titans a 17-14 lead. A decent first half for Tennessee's offense, with 232 yards.
1:08 p.m. CT — Will Levis threw a short pass over the middle to tight end Josh Whyle, but he takes a wallop and fumbled, with the Bears recovering. The play was reviewed bu the the ruling on the field stood.
12:50 p.m. CT: The Bears bring in quarterback P.J. Walker and he tries to throw deep, but it is intercepted by Tennessee's Tre Avery. Will Levis is back in at QB for the Titans, and he marches them right down the field, with running back Hassan Haskins diving into the end zone on fourth down for a touchdown. Tied at 14-14 now.
12:45 p.m. CT: The Titans get a big break when the Bears muff a punt, but on the first play, QB Malik Willis throws high to a wide-open Josh Whyle. He goes up for it, but it goes off his hands and it's an easy interception for Chicago's A.J. Thomas. That's a bad throw.
12:37 p.m. CT — The Titans defense gets burned by another big play. A blitz didn't work, and then there was some bad tackling that led to a 56-yard score for Khalil Herbert after a short pass from Justin Fields. That's a quick 14-7 lead for the Bears.
12:33 p.m. CT — Will Levis takes over at QB for the Titans on the second possession. He throws for one first down, but then in sacked on third down, a miscommunication on the left side of the line with tackle Jaelyn Duncan and guard Xavier Newman. Titans forced to punt.
12:25 p.m. CT — The Bears strike back quickly, perfectly blocking a pass into the left flat and new wide receiver D.J. Moore breaking free for a 62-yard score. Kick is good and it's 7-7. That play won't look good on film for the Tennessee DBs.
12:17 p.m. CT — On third-and goal, a great fake by Malik Willis, and he strolls into the end zone for a touchdown. What an impressive drive. Caleb Shaduk made the PAT and the Titans lead 7-0.
12:10 p.m. CT — No Derrick Henry for the Titans today, of course. We know what The King can do. So we're seeing a lot of rookie Tyjae Spears in this first drive, and he's looking good. His first four carries netted 31 yards, and that included a 14-yard run over the right side for a first down.
12:05 p.m. CT — Big play right out of the gate for the Titans. QB Malik Willis scrambled and then finds Chris Moore open over the middle for a 30-yard gain. Can't ask for a better start.
12:02 p.m. CT — The Titans have won the toss and elected to receive. Rookie Tyjae Spears back to return the first kickoff of the year. Brings it out to the 25-yard line and here we go.
11:40 a.m. CT — The projected starters along the Titans' offensive line are all going through drills together. It'll be interesting to see how long they play together today. It's a brand new group that could use the reps. From left to right, it's left tackle Andre Dillard, left guard Peter Skoronski, center Aaron Brewer, right guard Daniel Brunskill and right tackle Chris Hubbard.
11:30 a.m. CT — Here's all your information on how to watch — and listen — to the game today. CLICK HERE
11:25 a.m. CT — The Titans are wearing their white jerseys today, with the navy blue pants. Bears in their dark blue jerseys with white pants.
11:20 a.m. CT — It's a happy homecoming back to the Chicago area for several Titans. First-round draft pick Peter Skoronski, who grew up here and played at nearby Northwestern, has a lot of friends and family here. First-year offensive coordinator Tim Kelly grew up in nearby Chicago Heights.
11:15 a.m. CT — Chicago is the favorite today, which isn't much of a surprise. There are a lot of reasons that went into that number. Here's a breakdown on both teams, and why the Bears are favored. CLICK HERE
11:10 a.m. CT — Titans veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill won't play at all today, and young quarterbacks Malik Willis and Will Levis will get all the work. Willis, a third-round pick in 2022, will get the start and, according to reports, he and Levis will rotate throughout the game. The Bears are going to play starting quarterback Justin Fields in the first quarter.
11 a.m. CT — It's great that it's finally game day! Even the players will tell you that they hate going up against their own teammates every day. So it's good to see the Chicago Bears, a team that went 3-14 a year ago.
