Detroit — In the Celtics’ season opener on Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons, new acquisition Paul George made a strong first impression by scoring 38 points, setting a franchise record for points in a debut game. George also contributed five steals. Despite his individual success, Boston surrendered a 22-point lead in the second half and ultimately lost the game.
Meanwhile, in football, the Chicago Bears remain notable for their exceptional ball control strategy as they prepare to face the New England Patriots on Thursday. The Bears have leveraged an effective time-of-possession approach this season, leading the NFL with an average hold time of 36 minutes and one second per game. This figure is significantly higher than the next closest team, which averages 33 minutes and 38 seconds. No team in the past three decades has finished a season averaging more than 35 minutes in possession.
Chicago’s ability to maintain offensive control has been pivotal in slowing down opponents and limiting their opportunities. For example, in their recent 14-0 first-quarter lead against the Atlanta Falcons, the Bears controlled the ball for over 40 minutes while restricting Falcons running back Bijan Robinson to just 11 touches—far below his season average of 24. Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen pointed out the advantage of reducing an opposing star player’s involvement.
The Bears’ play style has resulted in a substantial disparity in plays run: they lead the league by running an average of 73 offensive snaps per game compared to just 50 defensive snaps. Projected over a full 17-game season, this would amount to a 390-snap gap between offense and defense, shattering previous NFL records.
Chicago’s offensive success is anchored by the NFL’s top-ranked rushing attack, gaining 161 yards per game, and efficient passing. Quarterback Caleb Williams, returning after a hamstring injury, completed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards in Sunday’s victory over Atlanta, including a streak of 12 consecutive completions to start the game. Williams is among the league leaders in completion percentage despite alternating with other quarterbacks Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum this season.
The Bears also employ a heavily blitz-oriented defense, ranking fourth in blitz frequency at 42 percent, and have allowed the second-fewest first downs in the league, averaging 17 per game.
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel emphasized the challenge posed by Chicago’s offense, which maintains extended time of possession, resulting in the defense spending less time on the field. Additionally, Vrabel highlighted Williams’ unique style as a quarterback who holds the ball longer than any other in the league, with an average time to throw of 3.26 seconds so far this year. This contrasts with his previous seasons but continues to expose him to frequent blitzes, with 53 percent of dropbacks involving extra pressure—a rate higher than any other starting quarterback.
Despite this, Williams has shown greater decisiveness in the pocket, adapting well against teams dialing back their blitzes, as evidenced by his strong performance against the Falcons.
Chicago’s offense also benefits from creative play-calling under second-year coach Ben Johnson, who has incorporated a number of trick plays into the game plan. One notable example is a successful hook-and-lateral play used in a recent game, which was praised by offensive coordinator Press Taylor for its execution.
The Bears’ approach—focused on ball control, balanced offense, and aggressive defense—has contributed to their 4-2 record and significant improvements over recent seasons. Johnson expressed confidence in his coaching staff and team as they continue to execute this identity heading into this week’s matchup against the Patriots.