Caleb Williams turned in one of the most overwhelming preseason performances. He once guided the Chicago Bears to a then-stunning 38-0 bludgeoning of the Buffalo Bills. Williams’ first-ever game with new Bears head coach Ben Johnson calling the shots took place on the turf of Soldier Field. He demonstrated that talent running the first-team offense up and down the field on Buffalo’s second-team defense, showing poise and precision along the way.
Williams only took the field for two offensive series. He was, admittedly, 6/10 for 107 yards with a gaudy 130 QB rating. His standout performance started with a dazzling seven-play, 92-yard opening drive that ended with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus. This early success was a harbinger for the rest of the game. The national spotlight did a lot to underscore Williams’ status as a potential rising star in the league.
Head coach Sean McDermott acknowledged Williams’ impact on the game, stating, “Caleb was unaffected and was in a rhythm right away.” His assessment reflects not only Williams’ individual performance but the challenges faced by the Bills’ defense throughout the match.
“Certainly not up to our standard, what we expect,” he stated, emphasizing the need for improvement regardless of the personnel on the field. And given the players behind the stars, he pointed out that everyone—start and backup—were just supposed to be better at their jobs.
As the game progressed, it became evident that Buffalo’s defense struggled to contain the Bears’ first-string offense. The disappointing performance led to renewed introspection by McDermott. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, that’s very clear,” he said. “Doesn’t matter who’s out there — ones, twos, threes, fours — whoever it is, we expect them to perform and we expect our level of performance to be much better than that.”
The Bears offense took advantage of this opportunity to prove how productive their offensive attack was, with Williams powering the offense proficiently. What was most impressive was his ability to play mistake-free football. McDermott said what jumped out at him about Williams and his offense was the lack of mistakes there in creating cause for alarm.
Bills safety Cole Bishop, who played on the defensive side of the ball, admitted the team didn’t do enough. “Not what you want to put on the film, but we have to learn from the film,” he stated. He focused on the need to learn from what they did in each game during practices and to come back better prepared for subsequent competitions.
McDermott’s disappointment was palpable as he assessed the game: “I’m concerned about a lot of things coming off tonight… There’s a lot that needs to get cleaned up.” His choice of words gives the impression that he’s approaching the issues that came up during the game with a bit of urgency.
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