LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — With their additions this past offseason, the Bears believed they had set up quarterback Caleb Williams for success in his second NFL season.
Williams teamed up with a new head coach in Ben Johnson, three new starters on the offensive line and upgrades at the skill positions. The Bears hoped to see Williams elevate his game with more support around him.
But once the snap is received by Williams, it’s up to him. During the Bears’ 27-24 loss to the Vikings on Monday at Soldier Field, Williams had accuracy issues and the team’s offense struggled.
“It’s frustrating,” Williams said. “You did everything up to that point right, and then you miss the pass. It’s frustrating. It’s something that we practice on, something that we get after, something that I’m going to keep getting after, keep correcting. It’s passes that I feel I typically don’t miss in those moments and situations. Especially being some of the passes what they were, how wide open. You miss, move on, correct and find ways to get better."
Williams was 6-of-6 for 51 yards and a rushing touchdown on the Bears’ opening drive. He completed his first 10 passes of the game but only 11 of 25 after that. Williams finished 21-of-35 for 211 yards and a passing touchdown while adding 51 rushing yards.
After their opening touchdown drive, the only points the Bears offense produced over its next nine drives was a field goal in the second quarter.
The Bears now face a new test following a short week of preparation, as they'll visit the NFC North rival Lions (0-1) on Sunday at Ford Field. Williams is determined to regroup this week in practice, head coach Ben Johnson said.
“Very positive,” Johnson said. “He's been consistent really from the springtime to training camp to now and it's been looking in the mirror, 'What can I do better?' He's very coachable. I think it's been great. It's been a really good process.
“I think we're really good in terms of cleaning up the mistakes and moving forward.”
As a rookie in 2024, Williams threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions in 17 starts. There was disarray around him, marked by the firings of head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron during the Bears' 10-game losing streak that derailed their season.
Now, the belief is that Williams is positioned for a breakthrough season. But it’s on him to lead the Bears forward. The first impressions of the new season weren't positive.
Despite that, Williams is trying to keep his head held high.
“Some of it is just trusting and believing,” Williams said. “That’s the biggest part of it is being able to trust coach Johnson and trust my teammates and things like that and keep doing what I was doing in the first half — take what the defense gives me and moving the ball down the field and being decisive.
“Just go out there and do your 1/11th and we all do that on one play at one point and then we move on to the next play and we do it again. Typically, good things come out pretty good on the other side of that.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.