Dolphins and Bears Battle to a 24–24 Preseason Tie

In his debut as head coach of the Chicago Bears, Ben Johnson’s squad faced off against the Miami Dolphins in a closely contested preseason opener—ultimately ending in a 24–24 tie. ReutersSFGATE

Dolphins and Bears Battle to a 24–24 Preseason Tie

Tua Tagovailoa’s Efficient Start

Making his first preseason appearance since 2021, Tua Tagovailoa wasted little time. Completing 5 of 6 passes during Miami's opening drive, he advanced the offense before the Bears' stout goal-line defense halted their momentum. ReutersSFGATE

Backup QBs Make Their Mark

After Tagovailoa exited, Zach Wilson and rookie Quinn Ewers took over and led three touchdown drives. Wilson threw for 96 yards and helped generate early momentum, while Ewers added late-game firepower, contributing to 10 fourth-quarter points that tied the score. ReutersSFGATE

Chicago’s Offensive Rotation

For the Bears, Tyson Bagent started under center and threw for 103 yards, including a touchdown, in the first half. When veteran Case Keenum took over, he delivered 80 yards and two touchdowns in the second half—propelling Chicago to a brief lead before the Dolphins squared things up. ReutersChicago BearsWindy City Gridiron

Special Teams and Defense Shine

Tension peaked when Miami’s Jason Sanders drilled a 56-yard field goal with just over six minutes remaining—knotting the game at 24 apiece. ReutersSFGATE
Notably, Bears' Austin Booker dominated upfront with three sacks and a forced fumble that led to Keenum's touchdown drive—highlighting a strong defensive showing in Johnson’s coaching debut. Windy City GridironChicago Bears

Injury Updates

The physicality of the preseason showed in the injury report: Dolphins running back Alexander Mattison exited after a knee injury. On Chicago’s side, rookie safety Major Burns, along with Travis Homer (calf) and Amen Ogbongbemiga (shoulder), left early and did not return. SFGATEwsbt.com

Final Scoreline:
 
Miami Dolphins 24 – 24 Chicago Bears — a balanced opener that gave both teams plenty to dissect.