Welcome to the Men’s League. Bears heralded rookie quarterback Caleb Williams received his NFL baptism under fire Sunday night in ‘H Town’, as the Texans did not hold back and dialed up the pressure in Chicago’s 19-13 loss.
The Texans got home and sacked Williams seven times, including 1.5 each from Danielle Hunter, who they got from the Minnesota Vikings in free agency and their third overall pick out of the University of Alabama in 2023, Will Anderson Jr., and generated 11 quarterback hits. After his first career loss, Williams stated that he expects to be more than a little sore when he wakes up.
“I’m a little bruised up,” Williams said, via the official transcript. “I took a couple hits today. I’m going to get in ice tubs and do all the things I need to do to make sure my body is ready for tomorrow and practice other the other days and obviously next game.”
Chicago spent the lions’ share of the offseason improving the fire power around the No. 1 overall pick and former Heisman Trophy winner from USC, but the subpar offensive line was left largely intact. With guard Ryan Bates going on injured reserve, the interior of the O-line has struggled big time to open the season. Sunday night, the group failed to pick up stunts and simple extra pressures sent by Houston.
Bears third-year coach Matt Eberflus, whose specialty is on the defensive side of the ball, said after the disappointing offensive performance that the glaring issues were on the entire group, including coaches.
Embed from Getty Images“That’s an everybody thing,” Eberflus said. “We’ve got to do a great job with the O-line, tight ends, backs. Rhythm and timing on the passes. What’s the play design in terms of getting the ball out? His reads and all that. Again, it’s everybody, so we’ve got to clean that up.”
Williams struggled to find his rhythm in the second half as the pressure mounted and sped up his decision-making. Both of his interceptions Sunday night came in the final two quarters as he attempted to make things happen. After going 12-of-15 for 91 yards and a 91.9 passer rating in the first 30 minutes, the quarterback completed 50 percent of his passes, 11 of 22 attempts for 83 yards, two picks and a 21.6 rating in the second half.
Williams could not figure things out against the blitz. The No. 1 pick earned a pathetic 4.9 passer rating versus the blitz in Week 2, according to Next Gen Stats. the blitz, Williams went 3-of-12 passing with five sacks and an interception.
Eberflus said it is all a learning process with the rookie.
“There were certain points where I think he did a really good job riding up in the pocket and making some good throws, so some really good positives there to look at,” Eberflus said. “Then also he was able to evade the rush a couple times and get on the perimeter a couple times. He has to be careful with the football after he gets out there when he throws the ball in a scramble drill. So great learning moments there for him in terms of the pressure that you’re talking about, of what to do and when to do it.”
According to Next Gen Stats, the starting five Bears O-line allowed 28 quarterback pressures, with the tackles particularly struggling against Hunter and Anderson: Braxton Jones, eight pressures allowed; Darnell Wright, six pressures; Teven Jenkins, six; Nate Davis, four; Coleman Shelton, four.
The seven sacks allowed were the most given up by a Bears team since Week 17, 2022, at Detroit, with Justin Fields under center (also seven).
