(670 The Score) The Bears (3-2) will be seeking their third straight victory when they play the Jaguars (1-4) on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. CT here in Chicago and 2:30 local time in London. Here are three storylines to follow in the matchup.
Williams, offense show continued growth
During the Bears’ 36-10 win over the Panthers last Sunday, Caleb Williams posted a 126.2 passer rating, the best figure ever by a Bears rookie quarterback.
For the 22-year-old Williams, it marked continued individual progress as he guides a Bears offense that's finding its identity. Williams’ passer rating has improved in each of the last three games – from 51.0 in an ugly loss to the Texans to 80.8 in a loss against the Colts to 106.6 in a victory over the Rams before his breakout game against the Panthers.
The Panthers may well be the worst team in the NFL, and their defense has been a glaring problem early this season. The Jaguars have been just as poor, ranking 30th in scoring defense and 31st in total defense. With that in mind, Sunday will be another golden opportunity for Williams to showcase his growth.
Williams has already taken steps as a rookie by going from managing the game efficiently to being a key part of the Bears’ success. He has thrown for more than 300 yards in two of his first five NFL starts and has elevated the passing game in the past few weeks. A key part of Williams’ success has been a more effective running game. The Bears rushed for a combined 259 yards in their last two games after posting only 218 yards on the ground in their first three contests.
Veteran running back D’Andre Swift has showcased improvement by posting 285 all-purpose yards in the Bears' past two games after combining for just 114 all-purpose yards in the first three games.
Top-10 defense on display
Five weeks into the season, the Bears rank in the top 10 of many key defensive categories.
The Bears rank fifth in scoring defense (17.0 points allowed per game) and are seventh in total defense (294.8 yards allowed per game). They're also third in takeaways (11) and second in opponents’ average drive time (2 minutes, 26 seconds).
On Sunday, the Bears will face a Jaguars offense that has been inconsistent but certainly has talent. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence remains a dynamic player, while Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby have led a rushing attack that ranks 11th in the NFL.
The Bears will be without starting safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion), who didn't make the trip to London. Third-year reserve Elijah Hicks will start in his place at safety. Though Hicks is a capable player, the loss of Brisker is significant.
Managing London
The Bears might already have an advantage over the Jaguars.
The Bears flew from Chicago to London late Monday before having a day of rest Tuesday. Since then, they've been on their typical practice schedule for the remainder of the week. Meanwhile, the Jaguars were planning to fly overseas Thursday but were delayed due to the effects of Hurricane Milton’s path through Florida.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus stressed the importance of having the time in London feel like a regular week of preparation, but even with that mindset, there are still plenty of potential distractions. Coaches and players are adjusting to working far away from home and have large groups of family and friends traveling overseas.
Games in London often have unpredictable results, in large part due to the logistical challenges. The Bears are intent on minimizing that factor. They're a more talented team than the Jaguars, and they want to keep the unpredictable variables to a minimum.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.