Caleb Williams came into the NFL with the aura of being the most promising prospect in years. The Chicago Bears seemed to have built an ideal environment for his development: DJ Moore was coming off a 1,300-yard rushing season, Rome Odunze offered a big physical presence, Keenan Allen added experience from the slot, and Cole Kmet was establishing himself as a lock at tight end. In the backfield, D'Andre Swift promised a solid ground game after surpassing 1,000 yards in 2023.
However, illusions have quickly crumbled.
A franchise without direction
The firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after just nine games exposes the Bears' internal disorganization. What looked like a team with potential now looks like a franchise without a plan or direction.
The offensive line, the Achilles heel
The instability on the offensive line has been catastrophic. The Bears have used 11 different players on at least 20 snaps, the most turnovers in the NFL. The result: Caleb Williams has been sacked 15 times in the last two games.
Over the last three games, he has faced pressure on 53%, 46% and 44% of snaps. This constant harassment has magnified his weaknesses, such as his tendency to hold on to the ball too long, a problem that was already evident during his time at USC.
The recipe to stop the Bears
Opposing teams have found a way to attack:
- Man-to-man defense, exposing Chicago receivers who can't get away.
- Constant pressure, with blitzes on almost 50% of passes in the last game against the Patriots.