The Caleb Williams vs. Spencer Rattler showdown of former Oklahoma quarterbacks and teammates was overshadowed by Williams vs. Troy Aikman, Dennis Allen vs. the team that fired him and the “Are the Bears for real?” storylines this week ahead of the game Sunday against the Saints at Soldier Field. And the reality that there was no juice in that angle.
Both quarterbacks downplayed the matchup, probably because their relationship was ultimately awkward at Oklahoma. Rattler, a five-star recruit, was the Sooners’ starting quarterback in 2020 and 2021 until he was benched in favor of Williams in the second quarter against Texas in 2021. Williams famously rallied Oklahoma to a 55-48 victory.
Rattler never started another game for the Sooners and transferred to South Carolina, where he went from next in line to the NFL behind Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts to being taken in the fifth round of the 2024 draft — 149 spots after Williams was taken No. 1.
“We haven’t really spoken much,” Williams said. “I don’t really speak to Baker and all those guys that much anyways. I know Spencer’s with me. We don’t really keep up that much, but I’m excited for the matchup. I know he’s excited. We’re going to go out there and have a blast.”
Rattler also dismissed the Oklahoma angle when it was brought up this week, but there’s little doubt he’s still competing with Williams and the other quarterbacks in the impressive Class of 2024.
“I like to put myself up against those guys in that class,” Rattler told Saints reporters Wednesday. “I’ve been competing with those guys since high school ball. I’m still doing it to this day. I love to compete against those guys, and I definitely want to be mentioned in that group because, confidence-wise, I’m up there with those guys.”
Rattler is playing catch-up but already has made up significant ground. After starting six games as a rookie — his first three for Allen and three more for interim coach Darren Rizzi — Rattler is establishing himself as a potential long-term starter in six games under new coach Kellen Moore.
The Saints are 1-5, but it’s not because of Rattler. Since a choppy opener against the Cardinals, Rattler has a 98.2 passer rating in his last five games — 71.3% completions, six touchdown passes and one interception. He also has rushed for 143 yards (5.5 per carry) — more than Williams (28-108, 3.9 per carry). In NFL.com’s QB index, Rattler (19th) ranks ahead of Williams (23rd).
Few if any outside of Halas Hall are worried about Rattler, but he presents a challenge for Allen’s defense — to prevent him from getting that confidence that can transform him from a nuisance to a threat. The last time the Bears faced an unproven quarterback, they knocked down J.J. McCarthy with a pick-six in the season opener but failed to knock him out. McCarthy recovered, got stronger with every snap and rallied the Vikings to a 27-24 victory.
Unlike Rattler, McCarthy was a first-round draft pick. The difference is noted. But there was a time when Rattler was every bit the prospect McCarthy is. The challenge for a defense still getting its footing in 2025 is to not give Rattler a chance to beat the Bears.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
When the Bears have the ball
The Bears will look to confirm the arrival of their ground game, especially if the conditions are inclement, after a breakthrough against the Commanders on Monday — 27 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown. But that could be problematic with D’Andre Swift questionable with a groin injury.
Swift, who gained 175 yards on 17 touches against the Commanders (14-108 rushing, 3-67 and a 55-yard touchdown receiving), said Friday he expects to play and insisted the injury won’t affect him. Rookie Kyle Monangai could get a heavier load, especially with Roschon Johnson having one carry in the first five games.
On the other hand, quarterback Caleb Williams has an opportunity to continue his upward trend against a Saints defense that ranks 28th in points allowed and was torched by the Patriots’ Drake Maye last week (261 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, 140.1 passer rating).
Quarterbacks have a 110.2 passer rating against the Saints (third-worst in the NFL) with 14 touchdown passes and three interceptions. Every quarterback the Saints have faced had two or more touchdown passes against them — ranging from the Bills’ Josh Allen to the Giants’ Jaxson Dart. Two of the three interceptions came from Dart, a rookie making his second NFL start in Week 5.
When the Saints have the ball
The Bears’ defense has been surviving on takeaways — which can be random if you’re not the ’85 Bears or even the 2006 Bears — but might not have to lean on them against a formative Saints offense under first-year coach Kellen Moore. The Saints have committed just four turnovers — only six teams have fewer — but they rank 28th in the NFL in points scored and 24th in yards.
Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler, a 2024 fifth-round draft pick, is 1-11 as a starter, including 1-5 this season, but has been consistently, if modestly, effective, with a 91.9 passer rating (98.2 after Week 1), six touchdowns and only one interception. He threw for 225 yards against the Giants and 227 yards against the Patriots in his last two games.
After playing the Cowboys, who didn’t have CeeDee Lamb for most of the game, and the Commanders, who didn’t have Terry McLaurin, the Bears’ secondary will be challenged by Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (39 receptions, 342 yards, one touchdown), who had six catches for 98 yards last week against the Patriots. And they can’t sleep on Rashid Shaheed, who had an 87-yard touchdown against the Giants.
Saints running back Alvin Kamara is averaging a career-low 72.7 total yards per game. But every offense is a threat until the Bears improve stopping the run (156.4 yards allowed per game, 31st in the NFL) and rushing the passer (10 sacks, 22nd in the NFL).