With the Chicago Bears off this week, I’ve planned to participate in some non-football activities this Sunday. But first, Bullets.
- No Bears? No problem. The Patriots and Jaguars got the early London kickoff treatment to get things going with the Sunday slate of Week 7 games. Later today, you’ll be able to get Texans at Packers (noon on CBS), Vikings at Lions (noon on FOX), and Chiefs at 49ers in a Super Bowl rematch (3:25 p.m. on FOX) in the Chicago viewing market. It’s not as if there isn’t quality football on television today to fill the void the Bears would otherwise occupy.
- Tonight’s Sunday Night Football game features the Aaron Rodgers-led Jets and a Steelers team quarterbacked by Russell Wilson, who I am inclined to root against for as long as he is Pittsburgh’s QB1.
- We’ll have some Bears and NFL trade buzz later this morning. But this feels like a good time to share this piece from Awful Announcing, which details Saints running back Alvin Kamara using his Twitter/X account to clear the air regarding a fake trade report. It has become increasingly difficult to follow trade chatter online since making up stuff for clicks has been incentivized by the app formerly known as Twitter. But I can appreciate when a player uses a social media platform to cut that stuff off before it gets too hot. Way to go, Alvin!
- All I can say is be careful where you click and who you’re giving your reading eyes to between now and the Nov. 5 trade deadline.
- A breakdown of Caleb Williams’ production during the Bears’ three-game winning streak via SB Nation:
Per Next Gen Stats, Williams has been one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks during Chicago’s three-game winning streak: In the last three weeks, Williams ranks fourth in EPA per dropback (+0.34 estimated points added per dropback), fourth in completion percentage over expectation (+6.8% CPOE), and is fifth in success rate (54.7%).
What does that mean?
Well, a +6.8% CPOE would be first in the entire NFL right now for the season if Williams stayed at that level. Fellow rookie Jayden Daniels leads the league at +6.4%.
Same goes for +0.34 EPA/db, which would best Daniels’ leading +0.29. Williams ranked second in the NFL in EPA/db in Week 5, behind only Joe Burrow, and was third in EPA/db in Week 6, behind only Jared Goff and Jordan Love.
- Don’t get me wrong. I’m digging QB1’s proficiency and excellence in these advanced metrics. But putting it in that perspective gives those numbers depth and meaning.
- Caleb Williams’ stats since that awkward end-of-game exchange with CJ Stroud after the Bears’ Week 2 loss: 93/133 (69.9%), 1,050 passing yards, 9 TD, 3 INT, 106.4 passer rating; 15 rushes, 110 rushing yards.
- Caleb Williams’ 17-game pace since that awkward end-of-game exchange with CJ Stroud after the Bears’ Week 2 loss: 395/565 (69.9%), 4,462 pass yards, 38 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 106.4 passer rating; 64 rushes, 468 rushing yards.
- The CBS Sports team nailed this intro (and the helmet backstory) as part of the coverage of the University of Illinois’ throwback game:
We're taking you back in time to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Red Grange's breakout performance against the Wolverines.
It's No. 24 @UMichFootball at No. 22 @IlliniFootball on CBS and @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/tkcjj4ejUq— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) October 19, 2024
"These helmets are unreal. Each one hand-painted and air-brushed…"@JennyDell_ breaks down the unique process of making @IlliniFootball's throwback helmets pic.twitter.com/K1ZgSQSuMK— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) October 19, 2024
- And, for good measure, Illinois knocked off Michigan. I can’t remember the last time the Illini beat the defending national champs the way they did on Saturday. Then again, I can’t remember a national champion entering a season with so much chaos at the quarterback position.
BN ON TWITTER: Bears | Blackhawks | Bulls | Cubs
- New Bulls guard Josh Giddey reportedly wants a big-money extension. Can he earn it in Year 1 in Chicago? (BN Bulls)
- The Chicago Blackhawks lost last night, but one of their top prospects provided a highlight for the team’s minor-league affiliate in Rockford: