Caleb Williams struggles on Sunday Night Football and loses his first NFL game

A stage for stars:

There is no bigger stage in the NFL’s regular season than Sunday Night Football. The eyes of the entire country are on this game, which is usually a big game or showcase for outstanding talent. Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears haven’t proven enough to be considered a “big game,” but Williams and the Bears certainly meet the talent requirement.

It’s exactly the kind of stage like Sunday Night Football that builds credibility and prestige for players and franchises. It’s not called primetime for nothing. With a fan base as rabid as the Chicago Bears’ and the expectation of being selected first in the first round, it’s nearly impossible to truly live up to those expectations.

Those expectations don’t bother the rookie quarterback, at least on the surface. Realistically, we know he feels the pressure, but he hasn’t shown it. Especially not in a negative way on the field. Williams hit the ground running in the preseason and impressed with his play, but the preseason is just a dress rehearsal for the serious stuff.

In his rookie debut against the Titans, Williams failed to impress anyone with his performance. The 14/29 performance for 83 yards and zero touchdowns or interceptions was far from the best debut. Despite the low numbers, Chicago Beard’s defense and special teams stood up well and ultimately led the team to victory.

Spooky Sunday:

Coming from a disappointing debut performance to a Sunday Night Football road game against a playoff team led by Coach Demeco Ryans is a tough task, and that pressure comes with Williams’ position. Williams took the challenge head on and got off to a solid start in the first half. Completing 12 of 15 passes for 91 yards and leading a late touchdown drive was a strong first-half performance considering the environment.

The numbers aren’t mind-blowing, but the poise and toughness displayed were exactly what you’d expect from a young quarterback in his second start. One issue in Williams’ first start was that he held onto the ball too long, an issue that worried many when evaluating him before the draft. Williams improved significantly in that area entering the game against the Texans.

The second half of the game didn’t quite go to plan, and the third quarter in particular was brutal to watch. While the plays weren’t exactly helpful, Williams missed a couple of throws when he let go on his back foot. The offensive line began to crumble under the Texans’ pass rush, and Williams was sacked a total of seven times against the Texans’ front seven.

Under the weak pass defense, Williams fell back to his college habits. While his presence in the pocket and ability to avoid sacks were on display, the level of athlete in the NFL is simply better than what he experienced in college. Two plays Williams would like to have back are interceptions where he forced the ball to squashed targets. The second was a triple coverage after avoiding a sack.

On the last two drives, the Chicago Bears defense gave the offense a chance to win the game. The offensive line continued to be beaten, but missed back shoulder balls stalled one drive and ended the game on the last one. The final stat line was 23 of 37 passes for 174 yards and two interceptions.

Williams showed a lot of courage despite the losses and mistakes. Those are growing pains for any rookie quarterback, but one thing that will help Caleb’s development is a defense that keeps them in the game. Despite the two turnovers, the defense kept them in the game. The feeling that the game is never out of reach is a motivation for everyone, including the playmakers.

Slow and steady wins the race:

Fixing mistakes and controllable issues is a sign that Williams is on the right track in that regard. From game one to two, he adjusted to get the ball out quicker. From game two to three, one hopes to see the same in terms of correcting mistakes. Throwing the ball away and differentiating between speed and touch is the next step.

Just two starts into his career, you can see him coming into his own. His talent is obvious, but you can also see him relying on old habits that he needs to break. As he settles in and becomes more comfortable, we could be witnessing the birth of a star. But it’s pretty clear that he still has a long way to go.