Despite a promising debut, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams struggled mightily in Week 2 against the Houston Texans. The Texans defense harassed Williams all game long, forcing two interceptions and sacking the young signal-caller seven times. The loss dropped the Bears to 1-1 on the season, raising concerns about Williams' ability to lead the team to success.
Caleb Williams entered his second NFL game with high expectations after a solid performance in the Bears' Week 1 victory. However, the Houston Texans' defense had other plans, exposing Williams' weaknesses and leaving him scrambling for answers.
Caleb Williams' Sophomore Slump: Texans Exploit Bears' Rookie QB in Week 2
The Texans' defense harassed Williams relentlessly, making him look every bit like the rookie quarterback he is. They applied constant pressure on the Bears' offensive line, causing Williams to panic and make poor decisions. He threw one interception to Kamar Lassiter and another to Derek Stingley Jr., both of which came at critical moments in the game.
In addition to the interceptions, Williams was sacked seven times by the Texans' defense. Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. each recorded 1.5 sacks, while Henry To'oTo'o, Jalen Pitre, and Azeez Al-Shaair combined for 30 tackles.
Caleb Williams' Sophomore Slump: Texans Exploit Bears' Rookie QB in Week 2
Williams' struggles were evident in the passing game. He finished the game 23-of-37 for 174 yards, failing to complete a touchdown pass for the second consecutive game. His receivers weren't much help either, as Keenan Allen sat out the game due to injury and Rome Odunze played through a nagging ailment.
The Texans' offense wasn't exactly setting the world on fire, but they did just enough to outlast the Bears. Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Nico Collins, who led Houston with eight catches for 135 yards.
Caleb Williams' Sophomore Slump: Texans Exploit Bears' Rookie QB in Week 2
For the Bears, D.J. Moore led the team with six catches for 53 yards, but their offense as a whole was unable to sustain drives and put points on the board.
The loss dropped the Bears to 1-1 on the season, while the Texans improved to 2-0. It's still early in the season, but Williams and the Bears have some serious questions to answer before they can be considered a legitimate contender in the NFC.
Williams' struggles in Week 2 were a combination of factors, including the Texans' excellent defense, his own inexperience, and a lack of support from his offensive line.
The Texans' defense is one of the best in the NFL, and they showed why against the Bears. They were able to generate pressure on Williams without blitzing, which made him uncomfortable and caused him to make mistakes.
Williams is still a young quarterback, and he will need to learn from his mistakes and improve his decision-making. He has the potential to be a good player, but he needs more experience and better protection from his offensive line.
The Bears' offensive line played poorly against the Texans, and they need to shore things up if they want Williams to succeed. They need to be able to give him time to throw the ball and open up running lanes for their running backs.
If the Bears can fix their offensive line and Williams can continue to develop, they have the potential to be a good team. However, they need to make significant improvements if they want to contend for a playoff spot in 2024.
