HOUSTON — Bears coach Matt Eberflus showed his faith in his offensive line when he gambled on fourth-and-1 at the Bears’ 39-yard line — after Caleb Williams had been stopped for no gain on a third-and-1 sneak — with the Bears down a touchdown in the second quarter against the Texans on Sunday night.
Running back Khalil Herbert run up the middle, behind right guard Nate Davis, right tackle Darnell Wright and tight end Cole Kmet, pushed and shoved and twisted and — with help from a favorable spot — got the first down by inches.
Even success hasn’t come easy for the Bears’ offensive line in the early going this season. Of all the facets of their offense that disappointed in the season opener against the Titans, the line was one weakness exposed in the opener that could undercut the popular — and generally accurate — notion that Williams was entering the best situation ever for a quarterback picked No. 1 overall in the draft.
The interior of the line in particular took a beating against the Titans. Center Coleman Shelton was beaten badly on at least two plays — including one that led to a 19-yard sack. Davis and Ryan Bates rotated at right guard assuring that the continuity the line needs most would not happen. And even left guard Teven Jenkins, a potential Pro Bowl player in his fourth season, didn’t have his best day.
The line was on the spot against the Titans. The focus this time on tackles Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones against the Texans’ edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and familiar Bears foe Danielle Hunter. But any weak interior can be attacked from anywhere, so Jenkins, Shelton and Davis were in for a test as well.
One issue was solved before the game started. With Bates put on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, Davis figured to be the full-time right guard — giving the Bears’ offensive line a chance to play ever snap together for just the 12th time in 36 games under Eberflus.
Marked improvement was hard to discern in the early going against the Texans. Shelton was beaten when Texans defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi and Hunter beat Jones to drop DeAndre Swift for a four-yard loss on the Bears’ opening run of the game.
Williams drove the Bears to the Texans 24. But Swift lost a yard on second-and-eight and Hunter and Anderson came off the edges to sack Williams for a 10-yard loss — Anderson coming off the Bears’ right edge and Hunter on a stunt around Jones on the left. The Bears settled for Cairo Santos’ 53-yard field goal that tied the game at 3.
The line struggled to establish itself throughout the first half. After the Texans took a 10-3 lead, the Bears went three-and-out on their second series On third-and-four at their 36, Anderson and defensive tackle Mario Edwards pressured Williams into an incomplete pass and the Bears punted.
The Bears were unable to establish the run in the first half, with 18 yards on 11 carries. Swift had seven carries for six yards. Herbert had two carries for three yards.
And there were the usual issues. On third-and-eight at the Texans 29 with 1:11 left in the half, Wright was called for a false start.
On third-and-13, wide receiver DeAndre Carter drew a pass interference penalty to give the Bears a first-and-goal at the 6. After a false start penalty on tight end Marcedes Lewis set up a first-and-goal at the 11, Williams ran between Davis and Wright for nine yards to the 2. And Herbert ran around left end with a lot of room for a two-yard touchdown. It was a start, but still left the Bears’ offensive line with a lot of work to do.