Winners and losers from the NFL Hall of Fame Game as Bears defeat Texans

Looking at other key events of the football week, the washed-out match between Chicago and Houston.

The first kickoff of the NFL preseason was on Thursday night and the Chicago Bears won the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio defeating the Houston Texans 21-17.

Lightning was sighted in the venue area and the teams’ safety was of primary importance this is why the match was stopped with 3:31 left for the third quarter.

Here is how the teams fared per their performance during the 42 minutes of football, if we are to overlook the fact that the much awaited event of Stevie G moving to Chelsea materialized.

Winners

Brett Rypien

For something to go seriously wrong in Chicago, Caleb Williams will not be the starting quarterback in week one; however, Thursday night gave a passing indication of a decent competition that was going on for the second-string quarterback position. Next in line is Tyson Bagent who is expected to be Williams’ number two; however, he was withdrawn from this match early and this gave an opportunity to ten-year veteran Brett Rypien to make his bid.

This journeyman QB who has only started four NFL games took the best out of it by completing 11 of the 15 passes, 166 yards, and three touchdowns. He did this by being willing to take chances and airing it out and in the process has obtained some film that should practically guarantee his place in the league for another year or two whether it be in Chicago or elsewhere.

Davis Mills

Houston too decided to give their first-team a break and Mills was in for Stroud, and he did fantastic job going by his 10/13, 102 yards and a touchdown.

While one certainly cannot draw many conclusions in August and particularly at this time of the year, it is encouraging to see that the Houston Texans offense seems to be on the same page and that can only credit the coaching skills of new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Caleb Williams

As for the Bears’ number one draft pick, he failed to play in this duel, but he must have paid attention to such key performer of the game as Collin Johnson, who after one drop early in the match, caught two more touchdown at the end of the game, and thus completed it with three catches for 56 yards.

Johnson was battling for his spot in the final 53-man roster this preseason and came into Thursday night’s game being the fifth or sixth guy in the depth chart, but this performance just goes to show how deep the Bears’ wide outs are.

Chicago Bears have tried everything possible in the current offseason to make sure that Williams is provided with targets and the rookie equally has every potential of making it big in the NFL.

Losers

The fans

Unfortunately, for the third time in nine years there was no completed contest in the Hall of Fame Game, although the flashed lightning stopped the match in the middle of the third quarter and for safety reasons the game was called off.

Some strange reason, the game was stopped with 3 minutes and 31 seconds left of the third period and the Bears were given a 21 to 17 win. However, it was instrumental improvement relative to the previous years’ games that were either cancelled due to poor field conditions or even COVID-19.

Yes, the decision to bring forward the whistle for safety was right because the utmost priority is put on the safety of the fans, players, coaches and non-playing personnel, but it would have been such a great pity that the heavens conspired and curtailed what was heading for a thrilling end to the first NFL game since Super Bowl Sunday in February.

Those expecting to have sessions to ignite their energy and zeal from the first day

The match started with our very first look at the NFL new rule regarding kickoff commonly known as the ‘Dynamic Kickoff. ’

Though, it was kind of unimpressive as eight kickoffs did not reach a return beyond the 31-yard line; on average the center of the field was at the 25-yard line.

But do not dismiss it after one use thinking that it is a fad, the wet ground of Canton was not suitable for big plays right? As for teams’ reaction to change, it is still in the development phase all throughout the wet months up to now.