The Chicago Bears are 1-2 in Caleb Williams’ rookie season. They asked the young point guard to throw 52 times Sunday against the Colts, but it didn’t work out, losing 21-16. There were four plays where Williams didn’t throw, one Bears possession in the red zone that ended in a turnover on downs. Williams was frustrated by that stretch in the post-matchAnd, by ESPN’s Courtney Cornin.
“It’s frustrating. We were so close and we had four attempts at that point,” Cronin wrote on social media. “I think we were below the 5-yard line for four attempts. To not be able to score in those moments is really frustrating.”
The drive came late in the first half with the Colts leading the Bears 7-0. They could have kicked a field goal and gone into halftime down four points. Head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron decided against it and went for it on fourth down. Despite three consecutive missed runs, D’Andre Swift got the ball again. He was tackled for a 12-yard loss.
Even with plenty of time left to play, this offense is a good example of the Bears’ season so far. Williams hasn’t been spectacular and they’ve found ways to lose in back-to-back weeks. They need to fix their offensive issues before the season is over.
Bears must stop frustrating offensive attacks
While it’s always tough to win with a starting quarterback, this Bears team is prepared to do so. In Week 1, their defense and special teams delivered the win despite Williams not passing for 100 yards. When Williams is throwing for 363 yards, the Bears need to win those games.
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The NFC North has produced plenty of surprising results in the first two weeks. Sam Darnold led the Vikings to a 3-0 record and Malik Willis has won two straight. The Bears need to start winning if they want to salvage this season and make the playoffs.
Their next two games could end in two wins, with the Rams shorthanded and Andy Dalton’s Panthers both traveling to Chicago. While anything can happen in the NFL, the offense should continue to pile up yards in these games. Waldron needs to get in the lab with Williams and develop better red zone plays than what they showed during that particular stretch in Week 3.
Caleb Williams has higher expectations than most first-round picks because of the hype leading up to the draft. It’s understandable that he’s frustrated after a winnable game slipped through his fingers on Sunday.
