The Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson era is officially underway.

Williams and most of the Bears‘ first-team offense received the start in Sunday’s preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Over two drives, Williams threw for 107 yards on 6-for-10 passing, including a 36-yard touchdown pass on a slant to Olamide Zaccheaus.

Tyson Bagent replaced Williams on the Bears’ third offensive drive.

The Bears’ defensive starters minus Grady Jarrett — and Jaylon Johnson, who worked out on the field before the game — played just one drive against the Bills’ second-team offense.

Our instant reactions:

Adam Hoge

Caleb Williams carried an improved week into Sunday night’s game, looking on time and in rhythm. It was also good to see him overcome a botched kickoff return that backed the Bears up at the 8-yard line to start the drive, and an uncharacteristic holding penalty on Drew Dalman.

Even on the second drive, Williams showed good anticipation on a first-down throw to DJ Moore. There were also no pre-snap issues. In fact, Williams drew an offsides call on the Bills with his cadence. 

Adam Jahns

Everything that quarterback Caleb Williams did Sunday night was meaningful. Yes, it came against the Bills’ backups. But the process he’s in remains important. He heard coach Ben Johnson’s playcalls for the first time in a game, relayed them in the huddle, scanned an opposing defense that could hit him and then played football. Williams threw the ball on time and hit his receivers in stride. The ball was spread around, too.

Let’s not overrate Williams’ success against the Bills, but let’s not underestimate it, either. Everything he did felt like progress, especially with training camp past its halfway point.

Patrick Norton

“Reps, reps, reps.” That’s what Ben Johnson said was the key for Caleb Williams to firmly grasp his new head coach’s offense.

Going through the motions, reacclimating to the gameday process and everything else that comes with a preseason start is an important box to check for Williams entering his second season. The touchdown was more of a cherry on top. It was also a little bit of déjà vu after Olamide Zaccheaus wrapped up a first-team drill in Friday’s joint practice with a similar long catch and run.

Williams’ touchdown drive on Sunday was impressive regardless of the fact that the Bills were playing their second-string defense. This was all about getting back in the rhythm of the season, seeing the ball go through the hoop.

Greg Braggs Jr.

You gotta love what you saw from Caleb Williams and the first-team offense. They were dialed in from the jump. 90+ yard drive. Nice throws to Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. A beautiful throw, catch and run to Olamide Zaccheaus—all things we’ve seen at camp. But maybe the most important aspects of it were no presnap penalties, no sacks, clean snaps, and clean operations overall.

And let’s not look past how the offense reacted to being blitzed several times. They looked under control. Ben Johnson took a great step forward in the development of the offense tonight. Twenty-two days until Monday Night Football! Right on track?

Stephen Nicholas

I don’t care if it was against backups. Caleb Williams was calm and decisive in his two drives against the Bills. The Bears of old would have folded after a shaky start that included starting at the 8-yard line following a mental mistake. That same opening drive, a holding call negated a first down and made it second-and-15. No problem for Ben Johnson’s Bears. They go on to convert a third-and-5 for a 36-yard TD to Olamide Zaccheaus.

This was a best-case scenario first half for Bears fans. I can go to bed tonight finally knowing what a first-half offense looks like.