Even with the enormous expectations for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the Bears hoped to bring him along gradually, making sure they didn’t ask too much of him too soon.
Williams, who doesn’t need to be the reason they win yet, certainly wasn’t the reason Sunday as the Bears wrested momentum from the Titans late and escaped with a 24-17 victory to open the season. The Bears’ only touchdowns came on defense and special teams, and their three scoring drives — all Cairo Santos field goals — averaged 24 yards.
Williams completed 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards and a 55.7 passer rating. His longest play was a 13-yard pass to DJ Moore late in the first half.
“Don’t care about stats,” Williams said. “I feel great. . . . We’re going to enjoy this win. Going to dinner with my family, hang out with them.
“From there, get back into it and get ready to go. We’re going to be better next week.”
The sense that Williams is on his way up, as well as the Bears pulling out the victory, made this game far more tolerable than similar ones last season. They didn’t win many of Justin Fields’ starts, and it was hard to believe he was climbing toward greatness.
Williams became the first No. 1 overall pick to win his starting debut at quarterback in the last two decades because few in his position step into such an advantageous situation. They’re typically thrown into disasters. It’s a credit to general manager Ryan Poles’ rebuild that this blueprint held up against Tennessee.
It won’t be viable for the long term; the Bears know that. They drafted Williams so it wouldn’t be like this.
Ideally for them, this was the worst he’ll ever play. By the end of the season, they won’t be so reliant on the magic that got them by the Titans. The Bears prevailed despite what Williams referred to as his various “miscues and misfires,” which included taking a drive-destroying 19-yard sack in the first quarter and overthrowing open receivers.
Once Williams is thriving, though, the thinking is the bonus points from defense and special teams will turn the Bears into a powerhouse. And they will need more from Williams against better opponents.
There’s a miniscule chance this type of performance will be sufficient against the Texans in Week 2. Only a handful of teams on the Bears’ schedule are as bad as or worse than the Titans.
“It’s about us being able to figure it out during the game and figure out our winning formula for that particular day, and that could change,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “And then once you get a solidified quarterback . . . it becomes pretty clear how you operate and how you do things. We’ve seen all those guys in the past.
“Our guy is very talented. Again, this is his first game. He’s going to continue to get better.”
He should. Peyton Manning threw three interceptions in his 1998 debut. Patrick Mahomes didn’t throw a touchdown pass in his debut in 2017. It took until November for Jordan Love to find his groove as a new starter last season, and he had some experience. It happens.
And for the great players, that early struggle eventually is little more than a footnote. One ugly game to start Williams’ rookie season doesn’t negate the potential the Bears saw in him or the spectacular flashes he showed in training camp and in the preseason.
For now, though, the Bears sometimes will be able to get by with a version of the formula that worked for them in the opener. Williams will have to contribute more than he did against the Titans, but they’re equipped to carry him to an extent while he figures out the NFL.
The goal for Williams at this stage should be clear progress, not stardom. And he’ll definitely take several steps forward as the season goes on.