The Chicago Bears don’t play a game today, enjoying their bye week. Players are getting some rest and much-needed time to heal from injuries. It feels like the timing is perfect after capping a three-game winning streak with a 35-16 drubbing of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is at the heart of this turnaround, throwing seven touchdowns and only one interception across that stretch. He already looks like a veteran despite only six total games of experience.
Now, the focus shifts to the Washington Commanders. They are next on the schedule, and the hype for the game is already building. Their own rookie quarterback, #2 overall pick Jayden Daniels, has gotten off to an electric start, averaging over 30 points per game and completing well above 70% of his passes. Many believe he’s a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year and has even said the Bears made a mistake not picking him. That alone should motivate Williams. However, former scouting director Greg Gabriel believes there is a deeper drive for this game pushing him.
Washington, by virtue of playing at home, will have a decided advantage, but the hidden factor is that Caleb Williams is from Washington, D.C., and we know darn well that he is going to want to play well in his hometown. Right now, I feel that game is a toss-up, but let’s just say that Washington wins.
Before becoming a star in college, he was a star in high school. On a last-second Hail Mary, Williams won the equivalent of a state championship there. He ended up winning Gatorade Player of the Year as the best high school player in the country. People forget that Hall of Fame point guard Isaiah Thomas was a superstar basketball player from Chicago before he made his name in Detroit. He took it personally when Michael Jordan arrived there, stealing all the fans that used to be his. As a result, he made it his mission to torture the Bulls for years in the 1980s.
It sounds like Caleb Williams might have the same mentality. While he doesn’t hate Daniels in any sense, he isn’t about to let the fellow rookie steal the hearts of his hometown without so much as a response. This upcoming game is the perfect opportunity. Not only is the Bears defense well-equipped to slow the Commanders offense down, but Washington’s defense is towards the bottom of the league against the pass. It could be a fun day if the Williams we saw in London shows up.
