So, we have a real, live football game that counts coming up in Chicago, deciding an outcome that actually means something. No preseason nonsense. No artificial hype. We’ll finally see what these Bears can do starting on Sunday at noon CT against the Tennessee Titans at Solider Field.

We all know that actions speak louder than what’s said at a podium, so this Week 1 affair will be an educational experience where we’ll learn more about the Bears and how they operate. Take notes, because this is important.

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But we’re not there yet, so uncertainties remain about how the Bears will work in Week 1 and into the immediate future. Let’s focus on five burning questions heading into the regular-season opener.

Can Chicago generate a pass rush?

We have no idea. Montez Sweat is questionable while dealing with a toe issue, but it seems like he should be fine and ready to go on Sunday. The standout defensive lineman will move around some from his left end spot in an attempt to create mismatches along the line of scrimmage, but he’ll have to win more than he loses to disrupt young Tennessee quarterback Will Levis. We all know Sweat is a marked man, so a pass rusher’s presence along the opposite edge will be important. Darrell Taylor is questionable with a foot injury – he got stepped on during Thursday’s practice – but he’ll be vital if able to compete. If not, then young players like Austin Booker must have one heck of a debut to make sure the secondary isn’t covering forever.

How will Caleb Williams fare in his regular-season debut?

Rely on your teammates and find moments to be special. How many times have we heard that before? Literally (okay, figuratively) a thousand times. That’s the edict from Bears brass to their rookie quarterback, who is on the verge of making an anticipated debut. As we’ve said time and again, Williams is going to make mistakes. How he responds to them will be key to his overall performance. So will his ability to make on-schedule plays. We know what he can do on the move, but it’s far better for Williams if the run game gets going and he can make the easy throws that lead to big things.

How will Bears deal with new Titans play callers?

Titans head coach Brian Callahan was the Bengals offensive coordinator last year, but Zac Taylor was calling plays. Tennessee defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is also entering his first time as a play caller. The problem with all that: there’s little tape to go off of as the Bears prep for this Week 1 matchup. We don’t know how the Titans will call a game. That means the Bears will see plenty of unscouted looks. The key is to be as ready as possible for them, and adjust on the fly.

“We have rules for how to deal with everything we see,” right tackle Darnell Wright said. “That’s important for us. We have prepared for everything, as we’ll adjust as we go.”  

Can Bears hit the ground (literally) running?

There’s so much talk about how Williams will deal with his NFL debut (including in this article), but a steady running game can be his best friend. The Bears should have D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson available to grind out yards on the ground. The Bears did so last year with ground-and-pound approach, accentuating a traditional run game with Justin Fields’ penchant for taking off. Eberflus said the Bears could adjust their philosophy a bit to accommodate Swift’s versatility, and that should be expected. If the offensive line can consistently create rushing lanes and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron can create some light boxes, then the Bears could take some pressure off their young quarterback by simply handing the ball off.

Who wins the turnover battle?

The team that comes out on the right end of this statistic generally wins a game. So, you might be saying, “Well, duh, Scott.” That understandable, but Week 1 amplifies critical mistakes. You can’t make them in volume and expect to come out on top. The turnover battle will be key, especially with an elite Bears secondary dying to take the ball aways. That’s why Williams must be smart with the football to emerge from this clash with a victory.   

Follow Bears Insider Scott Bair on X @ScottBairNFL. Also, Bair Mail is coming! Join the conversation by submitting a mailbag question or comment to mailbag@marqueesportsnetwork.com for a chance to be included in this new content series.