It was not a great first experience for Caleb Williams on opening day against the Tennessee Titans. He looked every bit the rookie quarterback he is, going 14-of-29 for 93 yards and rushing for 15. The game was characterized by inaccurate passes, ill-timed sacks, and an overall lack of rhythm. Plenty of fans were disappointed by the performance, but rest assured, it wasn’t all on Williams. The offensive line was whipped most of the afternoon. They allowed two sacks and five QB hits. Chicago managed only 84 yards on 22 rushing attempts.
It was also evident that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron didn’t have the best game plan. Tennessee was on top of everything the Bears tried, and he didn’t seem to feature Cole Kmet or D’Andre Swift much at all. All that said, Williams was quick to dismiss any idea that somebody else was to blame. He took full responsibility for the struggles after the game, admitting to missing way too many easy completions that would’ve sustained drives. The stats are what they are. Only one thing mattered to him, and that was winning.
He needs to be better and will be better.
His debut wasn’t what anybody wanted, especially himself. Everybody wants to get off to a great start. That said, history wasn’t on his side. Few rookie quarterbacks perform well in their first game. It usually takes a few weeks before they start to get comfortable. Besides, Williams did contribute to the win in a few ways. He protected the football, not turning it over once all afternoon. That enabled the defense to seize control of the game in the second half. He also deserves credit for the field goal drive late in the 3rd quarter. If not for his 11-yard scramble on 3rd and 10 to extend that drive, the Bears don’t come away with points.
That could’ve killed their momentum. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough. Caleb Williams will have better days. This was a perfect learning experience for him. He saw how complex and fast NFL defenses really are, a stark contrast to what he encountered in college. It will take some time before he grows comfortable. The fact that he still managed to win the game anyway means his team has his back. Credit to Williams for not offering excuses. He took responsibility for his play, as a good leader should.
