The Chicago Bears suffered an almost trademark cruel defeat against division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings; after leading for almost the entire game, the Bears surrendered the lead with just under 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, having conceded 14 unanswered points, facilitated by consecutive Vikings touchdowns.
Although franchise quarterback, Caleb Williams managed a late touchdown to keep the score within a field goal’s range, it was ultimately too little, too late for Chicago, who start 0-1.
Caleb started strong whilst playing on script, going 10/10 to start the game. However, as the game continued on – particularly in the fourth quarter, his consistency and accuracy began to wane, and the team continuously struggled offensively.
And Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd, on his ubiquitous show, “The Herd”, took aim at the former #1 overall pick on Tuesday morning, calling his playing stats – after the first offensive drive of the game – “backup” quarterback level.
Caleb Williams Rebuked For Poor Performance After 1st Drive
“In the first drive, Caleb Williams went 6/6 with 102 passer rating,” Cowherd said on Tuesday, the morning after the game, “The rest of the game he completed 50% (15/29) and a passer rating in the 70s – that’s a backup in the NFL“.
The dichotomy between Williams’ initial play and subsequent performance, according to the long-time sports-talk host, comes down to an inability to perform at a high level on non-scripted plays.
“My takeaway: the further the Bears’ Caleb Williams got off-script, the worse it got…Caleb on script: velocity, horsepower, he can move. On script, he looked comfortable and daring and good.
But that opening drive in the third quarter you could watch Ben Johnson, who was visibly frustrated by his [Caleb’s] lack of accuracy. There were also four false starts, 12 total Chicago penalties – eight on the offense. And he was missing badly with open receivers.”
How Does Caleb Williams’ Week 1 Stack Up With McCarthy’s?
Cowherd contrasts Williams’ fast start that ultimately fizzled out, with Minnesota QB, JJ McCarthy, who started off poorly, but turned it on when things mattered most in the final quarter of the game.
“JJ McCarthy in the first three quarters – unwatchable. A 34 passer rating, looked terrifying. In the fourth quarter 6/8, 101 passer rating…The more JJ McCarthy could play loose, intuitive football, the better it got.”
McCarthy got the win on Monday, but both are very different cases to one another – despite both coming out of the first round of the same draft back in April 2024.
This was McCarthy’s first regular season start to Williams’ 18th, but the former Michigan man looked as composed as any seasoned veteran when it came to crunch time in the game. Part of that could have been the strong staff around him, with head coach Kevin O’Connell having already established himself within the upper echelon of offensive-coaches in the NFL.
One game will not define the ex USC starlet’s crucial sophomore season; and his arm talent was fully on display for all to see throughout the game – especially when pitted next to the weaker arm of McCarthy.
But this will not be the start that either Ben Johnson nor the Bears were hoping for in Week 1.
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