We should be celebrating right now. We should be celebrating Caleb Williams’ incredible 3rd & 19 scramble drill and completion. We should be celebrating his fourth-down throw to Rome Odunze and the completion to Keenan Allen, which put the Chicago Bears in field goal range with a chance to beat the Green Bay Packers. Instead, we’re going toโagainโwatch a victory in hand escape as the clock hits zero thanks to a blocked field goal that secured a 20-19 Packers win. Being a Bears fan is misery.
Let’s hand out some instant grades.
Offense
QB Caleb Williams | B+
There were things to clean up, and we’ll discuss those this week, but Caleb Williams reminded everyone today that he’s the future of this franchise. He threw for 231 yards, rushed for 70, posted a passer rating of 95.0, and damn near beat the Green Bay Packers in his first shot at it. He led the offense down the field on a game-winning drive with his arm and handed Cairo Santos and the special teams unit the keys to a victory. They failed. Williams did not. My favorite moment of the day was when Williams refused to come off the field on fourth down, demanding a play call come in, and then backed it up with a conversion. What a day for the kid.
RB D’Andre Swift | A
A 39-yard touchdown run, 71 yards, and a stellar 5.1 yards per carry mark for Swift today. He also caught a pair of passes for 13 yards. You can’t ask for much more.
Roschon Johnson | B
Johnson had a new role today under Thomas Brown: short yardage regardless of field position. He ran well and found the end zone, and I would like to see more of this balance.
WR DJ Moore | B
Isn’t it nice to be used correctly? Copy and paste that for every receiver today. DJ Moore snagged all seven of his targets for 62 yards.
WR Rome Odunze | B
Rome Odunze had six catches for 65 yards. He was a more significant part of the offense than he has been all season with 10 targets today and a clutch fourth-down reception on the would-be game-winning drive. He also could have had an 88-yard score if Williams’ pass had more air under it in the second half.
WR Keenan Allen | B
Copy and paste DJ Moore’s blurb. Keenan Allen was used more efficiently than he has been all season.
TE Cole Kmet | B
It was nice to see a little more of Cole Kmet today. He caught all three of his targets for 42 yards, but I still want to see more of him moving forward.
Offensive Line | C+
Caleb Williams was getting the ball out lightning quick all day, and Thomas Brown’s play-calling helped this unit today, but they played a solid game.
Defense
Defensive Line | C-
Josh Jacobs bullied this unit, and they didn’t generate much pressure on Jordan Love.
Linebackers | C
Nothing really stood out here in terms of positives, so I’ll settle in the middle and wait for the tape.
Secondary | C+
The Bears play zone coverage very well. They’re the opposite of that in man coverage. They played more man looks today, and Jordan Love made them pay for it.
Special Teams
K Cairo Santos | B
I mean, it’s not his fault the kick was blocked. But I’m disgusted right now.
P Tory Taylor | B
The rookie punter averaged 41.5 yards on two punts.
Coaching
Matt Eberflus | D
Matt Eberflus owes Thomas Brown a steak dinner. That’s all I have to say about the Flus right now. Oh, the Christian Watson challenge stunk, as usual. And, of course, settling for a 46-yarder with a timeout in your pocket and 35 seconds on the clock is brutally bad game management. But no surprise there.
Thomas Brown | A+
It’s just one game, but it was the first game for Brown, and it was the Packers. His playcalling was exactly what Caleb Williams and the Bears offense needed today, and they had a shot to beat the Packersโhats off to Thomas Brown.