Following the Bears’ 27-3 victory, Williams reflected on the team’s rough start. He discussed his approach to maintaining composure and focus after the offense struggled in the initial three series, leading to a series of three-and-outs. The Bears eventually found their rhythm on their fourth drive, advancing to field-goal range where Cairo Santos made a 37-yard kick. Nonetheless, the Bears continued to face challenges, including a sack on Williams during a 1st-and-15 situation following a false start by Teven Jenkins.
Williams, however, took it upon himself to own the second-quarter sack without any prompting.
“I took the sack myself, and it wasn’t the O-line’s fault,” Williams explained in response to a question about overcoming his initial struggles. “I held onto the ball too long, trying to do too much.”
Pro Football Focus attributed the sack to starting right guard Nate Davis, who was making his preseason debut. Bengals rookie defensive tackle Kris Jenkins used a quick spin move to bypass Davis and sack Williams less than four seconds after the snap, despite Williams’ efforts to evade the pressure.
Nonetheless, Davis and the Bears’ offensive line likely appreciated Williams’ leadership and accountability in taking responsibility for the play.
Williams Handling Adversity Impresses Bears
Despite the challenging start, Williams and the Bears’ offense showed significant improvement once they adjusted their approach. Following the 37-yard field goal, Williams led an impressive eight-play, 90-yard drive that featured a 45-yard completion to rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze and a 7-yard touchdown run on a scramble.
Williams’ ability to remain composed under early pressure and his performance during the touchdown drive demonstrated his potential. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus noted Williams’ poise and professionalism, especially in managing adversity.
“He had a solid professional day as a quarterback,” Eberflus commented after the game. “It’s not always going to be smooth or filled with big plays from the start. I saw good operation before the snap, solid communication, and effective management of the game. His demeanor and body language remained positive even during challenging moments, which was impressive.”
Caleb Williams and the Pursuit of Perfection
Williams ended his first game at Soldier Field with a strong final drive, though his overall performance was mixed. He completed 6 of 13 passes for 75 yards, showing some inaccuracies and a tendency to force plays. His Pro Football Focus grade dropped from 69.3 to 60.9 for passing and from 73.5 to 64.1 overall compared to his first game. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent led all Bears passers with a 93.3 overall grade on 7 of 8 passing.
Despite the uneven performance, Williams’ ability to maintain his composure and avoid letting early issues affect his game is noteworthy. He embraces a leadership style that prioritizes calmness and setting a high standard of excellence, even if perfection remains elusive.
“In our offense, we have a shared understanding of excellence and perfection, even though we know we’ll never fully achieve it,” Williams said after the game. “This mindset drives us to improve and allows me to stay composed. When it’s time for me to step up and speak, I’ll be ready to do so.”
Williams’ performance and leadership will be closely watched as the preseason continues and the regular season approaches.