The Chicago Bears haven’t had the best start to their NFL season, losing by the close score of 27-24 against division rivals the Minnesota Vikings. Nevertheless, shattering those expectations was head coach Ben Johnson’s confidence in quarterback Caleb Williams’ growth in the experience after the game. Through the full 90 minutes, Williams showed flashes of brilliance paired with glaring faults with the ball at his feet, leaving serious concerns about performance level and consistency.
Williams finished 14 of 21 pass attempts for 191 yards and two touchdowns on dropbacks. He developed a similarly impressive connection with wide receiver Rome Odunze. Collectively, they caught all of Williams’ two touchdown passes. This connection has already led to three touchdowns in the first two games of the season.
Williams did provide some positive highlights, but he struggled with accuracy on all short and long-range passes. Yet he finished a pathetic 5-for-9 for 16 yards with one pick. His play was very up and down, exhibiting huge fluctuations, most notably in that debut game. His completion percentage tanked from 81% in the first half to a pathetic 42% in the last 30 minutes.
I’m standing there, I’m just like, first game, I dropped a few passes. Williams admitted after the game that at least some of his misses were due to a combination of footwork and hesitation. He challenged everyone to get up there to prove that all this is just going to get better with ongoing practice.
Williams showed a night-and-day turnaround in the very next game. He passed for 207 yards, two TDs and one pick with a 63.3% completion percentage. Coach Johnson noted this advancement, stating, “I did think he got better from Week 1 to Week 2.” This positive momentum will be extremely important for the Bears as they get ready for a potentially high-stakes game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Williams’ winning run has not all been smooth waters. In his first game against the Vikings, he had an off-target percentage of 29.4%. This dismal performance cemented him as the most inaccurate quarterback in all of Week 1. The Bears’ offense had been shooting themselves in the foot with penalties all game. • Williams was the chief culprit, collecting six penalties overall, two false starts and two holds.
He still believes that Williams will be able to develop more in the future as he gets experience in more high-pressure situations. “I think it’s just [the offense] being consistent,” Williams remarked, highlighting the need for better execution moving forward.
As the Bears enter Week 3 against the Cowboys and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, the spotlight will intensify on Williams. The young quarterback’s ability to refine his skills and maintain poise under pressure will be crucial in determining his success and the team’s overall performance.
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