Caleb Williams Breaks Record, Yet Bears Still Fall
Photo Credit: Michael Conroy/AP Photo
INDIANAPOLIS (PSF)—The Chicago Bears (1-2) fell to the Indianapolis Colts (1-2), the final score being 21-16. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, despite making some mistakes down the road, broke a team record in just his third start.
Against Indianapolis, Williams threw for 363 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in the defeat. Due to that performance, he now holds the Bears single-game rookie passing record. The record was previously held by former Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mitchell Trubisky, who threw for 314 yards against the Detroit Lions.
Despite the play from Williams, Chicago couldn’t secure a win against the Colts.
Before he threw his first career touchdown pass in the NFL, Williams had several costly mistakes. In the second quarter, he threw an interception to Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones. During the play, Williams tried to get the ball out to wide receiver Rome Odunze, but ended up giving his first of two interceptions to Jones.
Prior to the end of the first half, the Bears managed to get a few yards shy of a touchdown, but ran the ball four times in a row, causing a turnover on downs.
The final play saw Chicago try to run an option play to running back D’Andre Swift, but the play would result in a loss of 13 yards as the offensive line collapsed.
“That was a tough one,” Williams said. “Being right there on the inch yard line, or so, one yard line, and to not get that. So seeing things like that as a play we practice all week, something, you know, understanding that you know, they know when they get around the five yard line to one yard line, you know, their defense changes, and they get into those six-one defense and things like that.”
Williams would throw another interception to Jones in the third quarter. After the second interception, Williams would throw for two touchdowns. The first one was to Odunze, who scored his first career receiving touchdown.
Odunze finished the game with 112 yards off of six catches.
His second touchdown was to tight end Cole Kmet, who ended the game with 10 catches for 97 yards. WR D.J. Moore also was a key contributor on the offense with eight catches for 78 yards.
The rushing offense couldn’t generate any momentum against a perceived weaker Colts defense, with running back Roschon Johnson having only 30 yards.
On the defensive end, the Bears had a much better time keeping QB Anthony Richardson in check. Indianapolis had no passing touchdowns against the defense and allowed a sack on Richardson from defensive end Montez Sweat.
Richardson also threw two interceptions to linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and CB Jaylon Johnson. The latter of the two picks saw Richardson completely overthrow his target into the waiting hands of Johnson.
However, Chicago had a miserable time against the run, allowing a total of 150 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. 110 of those yards alone came from RB Jonathan Taylor, who had 23 total carries and two touchdowns.
The Bears have to go back to the drawing board for Week 4. Their next matchup takes them back home to Soldier Field to host the Los Angeles Rams (1-2). The Rams are coming off of a 27-24 upset victory against the San Francisco 49ers (1-2).
