In a season stuffed with self-sabotage by the Bears, they’re mathematically eradicated from the playoffs with 4 video games left and already subsequent season.
Subsequent season, and their future at massive, hinges predominantly on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. The higher he performs over the ultimate 4 video games, beginning Monday on the Vikings, the extra engaging this head-coaching emptiness shall be and the brighter the Bears’ outlook.
His rookie season so far hasn’t lived as much as what anybody, together with Williams, anticipated. He hasn’t come near his purpose of exceeding Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud’s large 2023 rookie season, and he has been outplayed by Offensive Rookie of the Yr favourite Jayden Daniels, who was drafted second by the Commanders after Williams went No. 1.
Williams has stuffed each side of the ledger in his first 13 video games. There have been flashes of potential and he’s placing collectively the perfect rookie season ever by a Bears quarterback, however that’s a low bar to clear in competitors with Justin Fields, Mitch Trubisky and different disappointments.
There even have been fairly a number of considerations, and a few early-season frustrations have resurfaced. Williams now has 4 video games left to make the case that he’s really heading in the right direction.
Final week was removed from reassuring.
Whereas Williams had an environment friendly 116.9 passer score and 73.9 completion proportion towards a struggling and battered 49ers group, he must be far more productive and extra of a catalyst. The Bears have been lifeless within the first half, trailing 24-0 and totaling simply 4 web yards on offense, and something that occurred after that was inconsequential in their 38-13 loss.
Williams was 6 for 9 for 27 yards at halftime and completed with simply 134 yards passing. The Bears have been unhappy with that type of output from Fields, and it’s not viable now, both. Williams can’t management the truth that the Bears’ protection is falling aside, however he should put up extra of a battle.
There have been indicators of regression in that sport, too.
Williams took seven sacks, pushing his NFL-worst whole to 56, and whereas the defective offensive line is a part of the issue, so is Williams’ propensity to carry the ball too lengthy.
Williams additionally has set an NFL rookie file with 255 consecutive passes with out an interception, however that’s not a streak value preserving if it means he’s overly conservative. He accomplished simply three passes towards the 49ers during which he threw 10 or extra yards previous the road of scrimmage.
The Bears want him to be the engine of their offense and put some worry into opposing secondaries the way in which the league’s greatest do.
Williams’ final sport towards the Vikings, three weeks in the past, was a greater instance of what everybody desires to see from Williams, irrespective of the ultimate rating.
He received the Bears out to an early lead. He deciphered defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ blitzes. He put up 340 yards passing and was harmful as a rusher, too, with 33 yards on six carries. He performed cleanly with out being overly cautious, throwing 20-plus yards downfield eight occasions and finishing three passes of 30 or extra yards. The offense scored 27 factors, its most towards any good protection this season.
That efficiency indicated progress, and Williams must stack up some extra prefer it.
His extremely anticipated rookie season may solely be described as a blended bag at this level. His 87.8 passer score and 211.2 yards per sport are higher than any season by Fields, however nonetheless trailed Daniels and No. 12 decide Bo Nix amongst rookies in each classes going into Week 15.
That’s hardly “creating historical past,” as he aspired to when he talked earlier than the draft about making an attempt to steer the Bears out of their long-running distress. They’re nonetheless in it. Williams can use these subsequent 4 video games to offer some hope that he finally can carry them to one thing higher.
Jones reported signs Sunday and can miss Monday’s sport.
Thomas Brown’s offense gained 398 yards and scored 27 factors towards Brian Flores’ protection at Soldier Subject. He is aware of Flores will reply. It’ll be as much as Brown to counter.
