Chicago Bears – Houston Texans: 21-17
The Canton sky clearly didn't want to see any more. On Thursday night, the Hall of Fame Game was stopped with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. Faced with the storm and a game with no stakes or starters, the NFL didn't want to take any risks. So the game was stopped.
Unsurprisingly, Caleb Williams, CJ Stroud and every other notable starter for the Bears and Texans were rested for this game.
But the meeting still brought some reassuring elements to both sides.
The Bears and Texans reassuring in attack
From the first offensive, Davis Mills (10/13, 102 yards, 1 TD) leads the Houston attack to a touchdown. On the second, it's a field goal. A good point for the backup quarterback, but also for offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who therefore seems to be starting on the same basis as last year. Coming in to replace Mills, Case Keenum (7/9, 78 yards, 1 TD) also went for a touchdown to allow the Texans to lead 17-7 in the second quarter.
Tyson Bagent (2/3, 16 yards) started at quarterback for the Bears. He had just one drive, which ended with a punt. He'll have to look over his shoulder, because Brett Rypien (11/15, 166 yards, 3 TDs) was much more effective, finding Collin Johnson (3 rec, 56 yards, 2 TDs) for a touchdown on his first possession.
Rypien then established himself as the star of the evening by leading two long offensives capped by touchdowns before and after the break. The first for Tommy Sweeney, the other again for Johnson. Enough to put Chicago back in front before the storm.
The new kickoff? Not a success so far
In addition to the substitutes, the match was an opportunity to observe for the first time the new rule on the kick-off. The observation seems to be that it will take a little time for the teams to get the hang of it.
A bigger return at 31 yards, and two penalties called for illegal formations. That's the tally of the day's five kicks. But the good news is that there was only one touchback!
