Dolphins, Bears finish in 24-24 tie
in the preseason
[August 11, 2025]
By GENE CHAMBERLAIN
CHICAGO (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa saw the
value in playing a series in Sunday's preseason opener even if it
didn't end the way he would have liked.
The game itself didn't end the way Miami or the Chicago Bears would
have liked.
Tagovailoa had an efficient start to the preseason Sunday and the
Dolphins and the Bears finished in a 24-24 tie in Ben Johnson’s
Chicago coaching debut.
Playing in a preseason opener for the first time since 2021,
Tagovailoa completed 5 of 6 for 27 yards in a 15-play drive against
Bears backups, but the Dolphins failed to score on their first drive
because of a Bears goal-line stand.
“I would say first off it’s important for any of the starters to be
able to get some play time before the actual season starts,”
Tagovailoa said.
Running back Jaylen Wright was stuffed by Bears linebacker Noah
Sewell on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to end the first drive. He
later scored on a 7-yard run late in the first half.
Miami backup quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers directed three
touchdown drives and Jason Sanders made a 56-yard field goal in the
fourth quarter.
Sanders' kick with 6:22 remaining tied the game at 24 and the
Dolphins defense turned back a late Bears scoring bid at the Miami
41.
Ewers, who went 5 of 18 for 91 yards, completed a 21-yard pass to
Alexander Mattison on an eight-play, 41-yard drive in the fourth
quarter, leading to a 1-yard TD score by rookie running back Ollie
Gordon with 11:48 remaining for a 21-17 Miami lead.
“Regardless of what was going to happen today, I think the team knew
that this is a start-off point to really work off of, to really
create the type of ball we want,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said.
Wilson replaced Tagovailoa after the goal-line stand and completed 5
of 9 for 96 yards. He hit a 35-yard pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
and set up the Dolphins first score, then a 34-yard completion to
Tahj Washington to set up the second TD.
Wilson, signed as a free agent after three seasons with the Jets and
one in Denver, is looking to revive a career that started when he
was the second overall pick of the 2021 draft.
Ben Johnson’s debut
Johnson, the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year as Detroit’s
offensive coordinator last season, decided to sit quarterback Caleb
Williams and all the other starters except left tackle Braxton
Jones. Jones is in a starting competition with rookie Ozzy Trapilo.
Johnson is attempting to help turn around a franchise with a long
history of poor quarterback play and struggling offense. However, it
was his team’s defense that stood out in his first preseason game as
they sacked Miami’s Wilson and Ewers six times, including three by
defensive end Austin Booker.
[to top of second column] |
Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker, left, sacks Miami
Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers, right, causing a fumble during the
second half of an NFL preseason football game, Sunday, Aug. 10,
2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
“I think he was a factor the entire game,” Johnson
said of Booker. “He ended up with, what, three sacks and he was just
menacing. They really feed off of that.”
One was a strip-sack at the 3-yard line to set up Case Keenum’s
third-quarter TD pass to rookie Deion Hankins for a 17-14 Chicago
lead.
The offense needs work, especially with younger receivers Colston
Loveland and Luther Burden III.
“I think we're trending in the right direction,” Johnson said. “I'd
be curious to see what the tape says.”
Kicking game
Bears kicker Cairo Santos has roster competition from former
Michigan State kicker Jonathan Kim. However, it was Santos
connecting from long distance in this game as he hit a 57-yarder to
close the first half and draw the Bears within 14-10.
Santos’ career long in the regular season is 55 yards, made in 2020.
Injuries
Miami running back Alexander Mattison left the game with a neck
injury after being tackled on a 21-yard pass play and did not
return. McDaniel said he still had some soreness in the neck and
shoulder area after the game.
Bears rookie safety Major Burns suffered a knee injury and left the
game in the first half. He didn’t return. Running back Travis Homer
(calf) and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (shoulder) also left the
game and did not return.
Up next
Dolphins: Travel to Detroit for two joint practices and a preseason
game Aug. 16 game against the Lions.
Bears: Hold a joint practice with Buffalo before hosting the Bills
on Sunday.
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