QUARTERBACK (B)
After throwing for fewer than 200 yards in his first two NFL starts, rookie Caleb Williams had his first productive day as a pro — completing 33 of 52 passes for 363 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for an 80.8 passer rating.
And while developing a connection with fellow rookie Rome Odunze (six receptions, 112 yards, one touchdown), he didn’t just lean on that — using DJ Moore (8-78, including a 44-yard Hail Mary reception) and tight end Cole Kmet (10-97, one touchdown).
Besides the two interceptions, Williams also lost a fumble when he was sacked from behind. But this was a step forward for Williams and evidence that the Bears’ issue is the offense, not the quarterback.
COACHING (D)
The Bears lost a game they should have won, and Matt Eberflus takes his share of the blame for it.
Most glaringly, the Bears needed to call a timeout to set up a two-point conversion after Williams’ six-yard touchdown pass to Kmet when the Bears should have been ready for the two-point attempt.
Shane Waldron’s offense produced 395 yards but still was lacking. After a week of focusing on the run, the Bears had 28 carries for 63 yards (2.3 average). And with a first-and-goal at the Colts’ 4 late in the first half, the Bears had four carries for minus-nine yards.
OFFENSIVE LINE (D)
Veteran Matt Pryor replaced Nate Davis — who was active despite a groin injury — but the O-line continued to struggle. Left tackle Braxton Jones was called for two holding penalties (one was declined) and had a false start. Center Coleman Shelton had another tough game, failing — along with left guard Teven Jenkins and Jones — on the fourth-and-goal option play.
SPECIAL TEAMS (C)
Only one major gaffe, but it was a costly — and inexcusable — one. Daniel Hardy bit on a head-nod and was called for a neutral-zone infraction on a Colts punt in the third quarter. Six plays later, the Colts scored on Trey Sermon’s one-yard run for a 14-3 lead.
DEFENSIVE LINE (C)
Not nearly the force it had been in the first two games. Montez Sweat had his first sack of the season, but that was the only one against skittish quarterback Anthony Richardson. The Colts ran 33 times for 150 yards, with Sermon and the offense pushing the Bears’ defense — and not just linemen — into the end zone on his touchdown run.