CHICAGO BEARS (7-10)
EXPECTATIONS: The Bears have been drawing all sorts of attention after a high-profile offseason. Now, it's time to see the results. The Bears handed the QB job to Caleb Williams in the offseason, drafting the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and USC star with the No. 1 overall pick. If he delivers the way they hope, he could solidify a position that has historically haunted the founding NFL franchise. But bringing in Williams wasn't the only big move. The Bears made a blockbuster trade for a playmaking receiver for the second year in a row, acquiring six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers after sending the No. 1 pick in 2023 to Carolina for DJ Moore. Chicago got the Panthers' 2024 first-rounder in that deal for Moore and used it to take Williams. The Bears are also counting on a defense led by edge rusher Montez Sweat and cornerback Jaylon Johnson to take another step forward after showing improvement in the second half. The Bears are 10-24 in two years under general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus. Expectations clearly are higher after three straight losing seasons. Now, it's up to them to deliver.
NEW FACES: Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, defensive coordinator Eric Washington, Williams, Allen, WR Rome Odunze, RB D’Andre Swift, TE Gerald Everett , S Jonathan Owens, S Kevin Byard, OL Ryan Bates, P Tory Taylor.
KEY LOSSES: Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, QB Justin Fields, WR Darnell Mooney, RB D’Onta Foreman, OL Cody Whitehair, S Eddie Jackson, P Trenton Gill.
STRENGTHS: Williams is in an unusual spot for a rookie quarterback in that he has no shortage of playmakers. The Bears appear to be loaded at wide receiver, with two established playmakers in Allen and Moore, not to mention another prized rookie after drafting Odunze with the ninth pick. They also have two pass-catching tight ends in the returning Cole Kmet and Everett.
WEAKNESSES: Sweat gave the Bears a huge boost following a midseason trade from Washington and made his first Pro Bowl. He set a career high with 12 1/2 sacks and became the first player to lead two teams in sacks in the same season, with 6 1/2 in eight games for Washington and six in nine games for the Bears. The question is whether Chicago can generate enough pressure on the opposite end. The Bears finished 31st in sacks with 30 despite the arrival of Sweat.
CAMP DEVELOPMENT: All eyes are on Williams. And so far, his performance is promising. Williams has shown glimpses of his arm strength and a tantalizing ability to make big throws when he's scrambling, rather than tuck and run. The moves the Bears made — topped by the arrival of Williams — not to mention their quest to build a new stadium created all sorts of storylines and made them a natural for HBO's “Hard Knocks."
FANTASY PLAYER TO WATCH: Moore led the Bears with 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns last season. And they rewarded him with a four-year, $110 million extension that guarantees $82.6 million and keeps him under contract through 2029.
BetMGM Sportsbook: Win Super Bowl: 35-1. Over/under wins: 8 1/2.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus speaks to media members during his press conference at the end of an NFL preseason football game against Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, at Soldier Field in Chicago. Bears won 27-3. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Bears have Caleb Williams at QB and whole new outlook with his arrival
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) breaks away from a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, at Soldier Field in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Bears have Caleb Williams at QB and whole new outlook with his arrival
DETROIT (AP) — Gunnar Henderson tripled just past the glove of diving first baseman Spencer Torkelson with two outs in the ninth inning for Baltimore’s first hit, and the Detroit Tigers held on for a 1-0 win over the Orioles on Friday night.
Beau Brieske and Brant Hurter (5-1) combined to retire Baltimore’s first 21 batters before Adley Rutschman’s eight-pitch walk leading off the eighth.
“That was an incredibly well-pitched game by all four of our guys tonight,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “There's the letdown of the near-miss, but that's still a shutout of a really good offense.”
Brenan Hanifee followed Hurter and retired the next three batters.
Tyler Holton relieved to start the ninth. Emmanuel Rivera flied out and pinch-hitter Coby Mayo took a called third strike.
Henderson hit Holton's first pitch - a sweeper - on the ground at 103,2 mph and into the right-field corner.
“It's a one-run ballgame, so we knew that if someone got on base, we had a chance to run into one for a two-run homer,” Henderson said. “That's all I was trying to do.”
Henderson became just the second batter to end a no-hit bid with a two-out triple in the ninth, joining the St. Louis Cardinals’ Bernard Gilkey against the Chicago Cubs’ Frank Castillo on Sept. 25, 1995.
Holton struck out Anthony Santander to remain perfect in eight save chances.
“It was a one-run game, so it was really important for him to reset and get set for the next hitter,” Hinch said. “It's still an agonizing feeling it see Santander coming up with a runner on third and a chance to put them ahead with a big swing.”
Holton, though, didn't worry about losing the no-hit bid.
“I didn't even realize it was happening, honestly,” he said. “I just wanted to get us the win.”
Kerry Carpenter, Detroit’s second batter, homered on the third pitch of the game from Zach Eflin (10-9), who allowed five hits in 6 2/3 innings.
"We just didn't score,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said.
Detroit (76-72) closed within 2 1/2 games of Minnesota for the final AL wild card.
Baltimore (83-65) dropped three games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.
Brieske, a 26-year-old right-hander, was planned to start as an opener. He retired four batters while throwing 11 of 16 pitches for strikes.
Hunter, a 26-year-old rookie left-hander, struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings while throwing 53 of 71 pitches for strikes. He started 17 of 18 batters with strikes, including his first 14.
“Give that left-hander a lot of credit — he's got a funky arm angle and he was pumping strikes,” Hyde said. “We had a tough time staying on him and didn't center him up all night.”
Hanifee, a 26-year-old rookie right-hander, relieved after Rutschman’s walk and got a pair of strikeouts around a forceout.
The game came three days after rookie Keider Montero faced the minimum 27 batters in a three-hit shutout of Colorado, Detroit's first complete game since Spencer Turnbull no-hit Seattle on May 18, 2021. Montero and Hurter pitched together last season for Eastern League-champion .
“These young guys have been very important, because they are having experiences they've obviously never had at the major-league level,” Hinch said. “But they won together in Erie last year, and believe me, they enjoyed it and we're all enjoying this.”
UP NEXT
The teams play the second of three games on Saturday evening, with Baltimore RHP Corbin Burnes (13-8, 3.18 ERA) facing a Tigers opener.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Zach Eflin watches from the dugout after being taken out in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, left, takes the ball from starting pitcher Zach Eflin (24) in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde watches from the dugout in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, left, and bench coach George Lombard, right, watch from the dugout before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Brant Hurter throws against the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
