The Buffalo Bills entered their second preseason matchup of 2025 with hopes of showing progress and gaining momentum as the regular season inches closer, but what transpired on the field in Chicago became one of the most startling and one-sided performances of the NFL’s exhibition slate so far. In what was supposed to be an opportunity for backups to earn roster spots, for starters to shake off the rust, and for coaches to evaluate depth across positions, the Bills instead fell flat in every phase of the game, suffering a 38-0 defeat to the Chicago Bears. While preseason scores don’t define a team’s season outlook, the way this game unfolded has sparked concerns and debates among both fans and analysts about the Bills’ preparedness and depth heading into 2025.
From the opening kickoff, the Bears imposed their will on both sides of the ball. Chicago’s offense, even while rotating between first and second-team players, looked crisp and efficient. Their offensive line controlled the trenches, creating lanes in the run game and giving their quarterbacks time to operate. On the flip side, Buffalo’s defensive front, usually considered one of its strengths, appeared overwhelmed and slow to react. Bears running backs gashed the Bills for consistent yardage, setting up manageable passing situations that allowed Chicago’s quarterbacks to move the chains with ease. Within the first two quarters alone, Chicago had already built a double-digit lead, and the Bills never managed to respond in any meaningful way.
One of the more glaring issues for Buffalo was offensive stagnation. No matter who lined up under center, whether it was a starter shaking off rust or a backup fighting for relevance, the offense simply couldn’t string together drives. The Bears’ defensive line penetrated at will, collapsing the pocket and stuffing the run. The Bills’ offensive line, which has been a point of concern in recent seasons, looked particularly vulnerable. Protection breakdowns led to hurried throws, poor decisions, and minimal downfield success. Buffalo’s run game wasn’t any better, as their backs were met at or behind the line of scrimmage far too often. Over the course of four quarters, the Bills’ offense not only failed to score but rarely even threatened Chicago’s red zone. For a team with postseason aspirations and a veteran core led by one of the league’s top quarterbacks in Josh Allen, it was a troubling display, even considering Allen’s limited preseason reps.
Defensively, the struggles were just as concerning. The Bills have prided themselves in recent years on having a disciplined, opportunistic defense that bends but doesn’t break. Against the Bears, however, it bent and broke repeatedly. Missed tackles plagued the unit, allowing Chicago’s skill players to pick up chunk gains after contact. Coverage breakdowns in the secondary left receivers wide open, turning routine plays into explosive ones. On multiple drives, Chicago moved the ball with little resistance, capping off possessions with touchdowns rather than settling for field goals. By halftime, the Bills were already in a deep hole, and with roster hopefuls filling in during the second half, the deficit only widened. Depth concerns were on full display, as backups failed to show the readiness needed to inspire confidence heading into roster cuts.
Special teams, often a deciding factor in preseason evaluations, also failed to provide a spark. Kick return opportunities were squandered by poor blocking and lack of explosiveness, while punt coverage units allowed Chicago favorable field position. The lack of execution in all three phases underscored a team performance that lacked urgency, sharpness, and cohesion. While preseason games are not about wins and losses, coaches typically look for signs of progress, chemistry, and energy—qualities the Bills appeared to leave behind in Buffalo.
The Bears, conversely, showcased the type of preseason outing teams dream of. Their offensive execution was precise, their defensive aggression suffocating, and their special teams opportunistic. Young players fighting for roster spots stood out, making impactful plays that will undoubtedly catch the eyes of Chicago’s coaching staff. The Bears’ coaching staff used the game to evaluate depth and test different rotations, and the players responded with intensity and focus. For Chicago fans, a 38-0 result—even in preseason—offered reasons for optimism about both the depth of the roster and the direction of the team’s rebuild under its current leadership.
For the Bills, this game will likely be remembered less for the final score and more for the lessons it can teach. Preseason is designed to expose weaknesses and highlight areas for improvement, and this loss did exactly that. The offensive line must regroup and improve its protection schemes if the Bills are to keep their franchise quarterback healthy and effective. The defensive front needs to rediscover its disruptive nature, particularly against the run, to avoid being controlled at the line of scrimmage. Coaches must also evaluate whether their depth players are developing at the pace needed to contribute when inevitable injuries occur during the regular season. If nothing else, this blowout loss serves as a wake-up call to players who may have entered camp feeling secure in their roles.
Josh Allen’s limited presence in the game will prevent overreactions about the Bills’ offensive ceiling, as his ability to make plays under pressure and extend drives with his arm and legs cannot be understated. Still, the lack of cohesion among the offensive unit—even in limited sample sizes—underscores the need for sharper execution before the regular season opener. Buffalo has Super Bowl aspirations, but games like this remind everyone that aspirations are achieved through preparation, discipline, and execution at every level of the roster.
From a coaching perspective, Sean McDermott and his staff will have plenty of film to review. Preseason blowouts provide teachable moments, and the evaluation process will be critical over the next two weeks. Determining which players can rebound from poor performances and which ones fold under pressure will shape the Bills’ final 53-man roster. While the scoreboard shows embarrassment, the film room will provide opportunity. Sometimes, teams need a humbling preseason performance to sharpen focus and reignite urgency. The question for Buffalo is whether this defeat will serve as that turning point or whether it will expose deeper flaws that linger into the regular season.
Fans, naturally, expressed frustration with the performance. Social media was filled with commentary questioning the team’s readiness, offensive play-calling, and depth development. Some fans downplayed the result as typical preseason sloppiness, while others pointed to it as a warning sign that the Bills may not be as deep or resilient as expected. Such debates are common in August when every snap is dissected for hints of what lies ahead, but the truth usually lies somewhere in between. Preseason games rarely predict regular season success or failure, but they do highlight trends that cannot be ignored.
Buffalo’s upcoming preseason games will now take on added importance, not because the team needs to prove itself in meaningless wins and losses, but because it needs to restore confidence in its process. The offense must show it can sustain drives, the defense must regain its edge, and special teams must provide reliability. Most importantly, the roster bubble players must seize their opportunities with urgency, as the coaching staff will have little patience for repeated lapses.
For Chicago, the 38-0 victory will energize a fan base eager to see progress. While preseason success is never an absolute indicator of regular season results, dominant performances build confidence and foster belief within a locker room. Young players will enter the next week of practice with momentum, and veterans will feel encouraged by the depth developing around them. In a league where morale and momentum can swing quickly, such an emphatic win—even in August—can serve as a stepping stone.
In the larger picture, preseason games like this one remind us of the dual nature of August football. For some teams, it is about finding identity and building confidence. For others, it is about confronting weaknesses and addressing vulnerabilities. The Buffalo Bills walked away from Chicago with a harsh dose of the latter, while the Bears walked away with a boost of the former. Whether this result ultimately matters in December and January remains to be seen, but in the here and now, it has left Buffalo searching for answers and Chicago celebrating progress.
The Bills have long been seen as a contender in the AFC, thanks to the presence of Josh Allen and a veteran core. But contenders are judged not only by their stars but also by their ability to develop depth and adapt when adversity strikes. If Buffalo is to live up to its championship ambitions, it must take this 38-0 preseason loss as more than just an exhibition mishap—it must treat it as a catalyst for growth, urgency, and renewed focus. Otherwise, what happened in August against the Bears could foreshadow struggles that no team with Super Bowl aspirations can afford.
The loss will fade from the record books as soon as the regular season begins, but its lessons, if properly absorbed, could shape the Bills’ journey in 2025. For now, though, all anyone can talk about is how the Chicago Bears, on a warm preseason weekend, completely dismantled the Buffalo Bills in every possible way, leaving one fan base buzzing with hope and another grappling with doubt.
