The Chicago Bears and quarterback Caleb Williams hit their stride with a dominant 36-10 win over the Carolina Panthers. It seems everything is falling into place for the No. 1 overall pick, as Williams has delivered his best performance of the season. He completed 20 of 29 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns, along with achieving a career-high passer rating of 126.2. However, the reason for Williams’ success was more than just playing against a weak opponent.
Caleb Williams’ Success Linked to Bears’ Up-Tempo Offense
Handling the Pressure as a Rookie Quarterback
A few weeks ago, Bears fans were urged to take a deep breath after Caleb Williams’ rocky start. While jumping to conclusions after a few mishaps is easy, Williams ignored the criticism. Instead, he and Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron went back to the drawing board to address the struggling offense. Many may have missed the Bears’ strategic choice to go up-tempo on offense, helping them find their rhythm on Sunday. Even with a comfortable lead in the second half, Williams kept dealing, signaling the coaching staff’s immense confidence in him. They’re essentially handing him the reins, allowing Williams to make in-game checks and calls—a rare responsibility for a rookie in the NFL.
The question now is who decides when to go up-tempo, but either way, it reflects the trust between Williams and the coaching staff. After being one of the worst teams in the league at creating explosive plays on offense, the Bears had six in the first half. Williams also posted the highest EPA (expected points added) per pass at 0.96 in the first half, marking the best performance by a Bears QB in a first half since Mitch Trubisky in 2018.
Consistency is Key
Caleb Williams wasn’t the only Bears player to find success on offense. Running back D’Andre Swift had another huge game, running for 120 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, wide receiver D.J. Moore had his revenge game with five catches for 105 yards and two TDS. Williams spoke about the offense’s performance, saying:
“That’s definitely how we want to play. Definitely what we envisioned as an offense and as a team. We’ve got to keep doing it.”
Williams has been playing mistake-free football, and he’ll need to maintain that consistency as he faces more formidable divisional opponents later in the season. While he’s been outstanding at home, the question is whether he can continue playing at a high level on the road.
What’s Next for Caleb Williams, Bears Offense
Don’t sway away from what’s working. For some reason, the Bears have a habit of going away from what’s working, whether in the next game or on the next drive. While it seems like an easy fix, it’s a habit that frustrates fans. For instance, the pairing of Doug Kramer Jr. at fullback and Roschon Johnson at halfback was unstoppable, yet the Bears went away from this setup and failed to convert on a crucial fourth-down play.
The Bears need to keep trusting Williams and continue incorporating up-tempo play into the offense. They don’t need to do it all the time, but the up-tempo offense suits Williams’ play style, and playing to a rookie quarterback’s strengths is essential for their development.
