Bears see improvement in Caleb Williams’ performance, but it comes in a 21-16 loss to Colts

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams produced promising numbers in his third career NFL start.

They came with a disappointingly familiar result Sunday for Chicago.

While the No. 1 overall draft topped the 300-yard mark for the first time and got the Bears into the end zone twice with the first two TD passes of his pro career, Williams could not complete a fourth-quarter comeback attempt at Indianapolis, suffering his second straight defeat.

But Williams remains optimistic.

“Got our first two passing touchdowns of the year, which obviously feels good,” Williams said. “I think the offensive identity is brewing. I think it’s a lot closer than it was the week before or weeks before, I think it’s right there. I think we were one small detail away on a lot of these plays and that includes me.”

After last Sunday’s loss at Houston, the bruised and battered Williams hobbled off the field so sore that the effects were lingering three days later.

This time, he walked off the field, quickly passing people, his chin pointed up and with a look that said he was ready to start all over next week against the Los Angeles Rams.

The primary problem, so far, for the Bears (1-2) continues to be pass protection.

While Williams was a solid 33 of 52 for 363 yards, all career bests, and finished with a passer rating of 80.8 — more than double Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson’s 39.0 — the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner spent most of the game operating on the run. Again.

The result: Williams threw two interceptions, lost a fumble, had a halftime heave batted down in the end zone while getting sacked four times, hit a total of seven times and harangued into a series of throwaways including on a 2-point conversion pass that would have cut a 14-9 deficit to three.

A fourth-quarter strip-sack led to Jonathan Taylor’s second scoring run of the day, a 1-yard plunge with 5:21 to play, that made it 21-9 and essentially sealed Chicago’s fate despite Williams throwing for the most yards in an NFL game this season.

It was that kind of day again for the Bears — as it has been for much of the first three games.

“The quick game was there. When we needed to throw the ball down the field, we could,” said receiver DJ Moore, who had eight catches for 78 yards and 9.78 per catch. “When you look past the turnovers and the penalties, you can start to see the offense coming alive.”

Clearly, though, Williams needs more help.

Chicago only rushed for 63 yards and was thrown for a 12-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the Colts 1-yard line in the first half — against a run defense that started Week 3 yielding a league-worst 237.0 yards per game.

With Matt Pryor replacing injured right guard Nate Davis in the starting lineup and left tackle Braxton Jones leaving briefly in the first half after appearing to hurt his right leg, the Bears’ offensive line again struggled to keep Williams upright.

And yet Williams still held up relatively well.

“I was pleased with the distribution of the football by Caleb,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “That allowed the receivers to have confidence. I thought we were committed to the run. I’m proud of the way the defense played. But the most important thing is winning.”